Health Fund: Huss Demands More Regionality and Resources

By 2024, private households in Austria would have already spent 11.5 billion euros on health, "this is unbearable. It has nothing to do with a solidarity-based health system," criticized Huss at a media event in Dornbirn.

The ÖGK chairman referred to the 2020 merger of the insurance funds as a "major coup" by the then turquoise-blue federal government. The shift of power towards the side of employer representatives was a major shock and had corresponding effects. The Chamber of Commerce, for example, now represents the interests of its members, and the interests of the insured are no longer in the foreground. This needs to be rolled back. It must not be the case "that employees can no longer decide what happens with their money." As a representative of the employees, Huss has once again taken over the chairmanship of the ÖKG as of July 1st.

Responsible Parties in the Federal States

That the ÖGK has achieved uniform services in many areas throughout Austria is one of its achievements. Conversely, the federal states have been virtually abolished in the ÖGK by the dissolution of the regional health insurance funds. "There are no more contact persons in the federal states," stated Huss - himself a former chairman of the Salzburg regional health insurance fund. There must be responsible parties in the federal states "who are on an equal footing with the health ministers or the medical association," said Huss.

Apart from the contracts for uniform services, there are many points in the federal states that need to be regulated regionally - as an example, the ÖGK chairman cited the hotline 1450, for the operation of which there are various prerequisites in the federal states. Also, regarding primary care centers or the question of the number of hospital beds, "regional competence and regional understanding" are needed.

Federal States as Pioneers for Nationwide Standards

During the time of the regional health insurance funds, he always learned a lot, admitted Huss. In Vorarlberg, for example, a colon cancer screening was introduced, which has become the nationwide standard in Austria. Also, in access to psychotherapy, Vorarlberg took a pioneering role. "You can see what it's like to have regional opportunities," said Huss.

(APA/Red)

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