22.01.2024 – 17:06
Mobile health insurance
Hamburg (ots)
According to the BMG announcement: Politicians must now set the course to bring the successful health kiosk model out of the waiting loop and into the mainstream
Health for Billstedt/Horn UG, AOK Rheinland/Hamburg and Mobil Krankenkasse (MKK) appealed to politicians in a press conference today to push ahead with the nationwide establishment of health kiosks.
BMG department head Michael Weller, who was connected online from Berlin, named key points of the new draft bill for the Health Care Strengthening Act (GVSG). “We want to establish health kiosks as standard care and create a legal right to this care for all people, regardless of their insured status.” The draft should go to departmental coordination in the short term. “Our goal is to bring the law to the cabinet in April so that it can be legally binding by January 2025, if possible.”
Matthias Mohrmann, deputy chairman of the board of AOK Rheinland/Hamburg, said: “Health kiosks successfully fill a gap in the health system, which must be filled with a view to providing care to vulnerable groups. Because clients often have more extensive care problems behind an acute illness , for the solution of which other social service providers must be involved. The health kiosk succeeds in identifying these and paving the right paths. The GVSG is an important building block for more coordination and cooperation in outpatient care. The instruments and facilities mentioned in the draft bill can be used sustainably contribute.”
Mario Heise, MKK board member, also emphasized the need to implement this innovative care model: “With the health kiosks, we as a health insurance company are taking an active role and can develop tailor-made solutions on site with all stakeholders, i.e. exactly where there is a need. From that Everyone benefits from a preventative approach to strengthening personal health literacy and we see this as necessary support for our society.”
Alexander Fischer, managing director of the sponsoring company, recalled the health kiosk’s success story in Hamburg, which is currently marred by the fact that only those insured by AOK Rheinland/Hamburg and MKK are allowed to use the health kiosk’s offerings. “More perspective is also needed for the highly qualified nursing staff at the Hamburg health kiosks.” Fischer emphasized that G-BA Innovation Fund projects that receive a positive assessment for inclusion in standard care should not solely depend on the initiative of two health insurance companies.
The doctors present – Dr. Gerd Fass as chairman of the Medical Network Billstedt-Horn eV and Dr. Mike Müller-Glamann as family doctor and second chairman of the Hamburg Association of General Practitioners – called for better care for vulnerable patient groups. Dr. Gerd Fass: “As a result of the withdrawal of the replacement insurance funds, advice from the health kiosk will no longer be available for around 2,500 insured people in Billstedt. This puts even more strain on our practices, which are already overloaded. Against this background, we can no longer afford long discussions about the law. ”
To the background
With a project funded by the Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), the development of a regional, integrated health network with a focus on prevention, health promotion and maintenance began in the Hamburg districts of Billstedt and Horn in 2017. The health kiosk, as the heart of the network, forms an important organizational interface between medical care and the social space.
An evaluation by the Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE) at the University of Hamburg from 2021 shows that the health kiosk creates improved access to care and contributes to patient satisfaction and relieves the burden on the medical profession.
In September 2021, another regional supply project, the “dieKümmerei” district headquarters, opened in Cologne-Chorweiler, which aims to improve supply in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. There are further locations in Essen, Aachen and Solingen.
What exactly does the health kiosk offer look like?
In the health kiosk, specially trained employees inform clients about illnesses, therapies and a healthy lifestyle – in German, English, Turkish, Farsi, Dari, Portuguese, Polish and Russian. Those seeking advice receive help that goes beyond traditional health topics – for example, concrete support in finding a daycare place or applying for household help.
Press contact:
Mobile health insurance press office
Christian Dierks
Phone: 040 3002-870
E-Mail: [email protected]
AOK Rhineland/Hamburg: Antje Kusalik, [email protected]
Health kiosk: Klaus Balzer, [email protected]
Original content from: Mobil Krankenkasse, transmitted by news aktuell