After Protest: No Negotiations on Amalgam Replacement After All
They cite a "breach of trust" due to the "negative press work" of the ÖGK and a protest action in front of the Association, it was reported to the APA. The health insurance company expressed "extreme surprise".
Negotiation Round on Amalgam Replacement Cancelled at Short Notice
At the beginning of the year, a ban on amalgam as a dental filling material came into effect. Therefore, ÖGK and the Association have been trying for some time to agree on a health insurance-funded replacement material for the insured. The ÖGK is pushing for the relatively new, white material Alkasit, tested in health insurance clinics, and would have been willing to pay 20 percent more than before for amalgam- and thus mercury-free fillings.
However, the Dental Association only wanted to accept the technically inferior glass ionomer cement or other cements as free for patients, everything else the doctors wanted to be paid privately. In addition, the ÖZÄK demanded significant changes in the overall contract and the fee schedule. The ÖGK accused the doctors of refusing to negotiate and offered dentists - with moderate success - individual contracts bypassing the Association.
Last Agreement with BVAEB
However, there has been a rhetorical approach recently. At the end of December, the ÖZÄK and the (smaller) Insurance Institution for Public Servants, Railways and Mining (BVAEB) agreed - the materials glass ionomer cement and Alkasit became a health insurance benefit there. The approximately 50 percent surcharge negotiated there was called a "very high tariff" by ÖGK chairman Andreas Huss. However, there will probably be a solution between 20 and 50 percent.
On Thursday, however, the chamber representatives initially showed outrage. From the ÖGK side, "negative press work had already been done on Wednesday afternoon, which makes the ÖZÄK seriously doubt that the ÖGK is interested in a constructive negotiation result," it said in a statement. "Rather, it seems as if the blame for the failure of the negotiations should be prophylactically shifted to the ÖZÄK."
Protest Action in Front of the Chamber, ÖGK Surprised by Cancellation
The straw that broke the camel's back was probably the protest action of a campaign organization that took place in front of the chamber building before the start of negotiations and was attributed to the ÖGK by the ÖZÄK. The negotiations for today have therefore been cancelled, it was said to the APA. But that does not mean that the talks are generally being broken off. "We are still interested in a conclusion." There is good exchange and a good basis at the technical level.
At the ÖGK, they were "extremely surprised by the short-term cancellation of the negotiations by the Dental Chamber". This raises "doubts as to whether they are interested in an agreement at all," it said in a statement sent to the APA. For the ÖGK, the dental care of its 7.6 million insured persons is the top priority. However, they also remained ready to negotiate. Fillings would continue to be offered at the 61 ÖGK dental health centers at the expense of the health insurance.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.