Implications of the EU Patients’ Rights Directive in Cross-Border Healthcare on the German Sickness Fund System

Mathias Kifmann () and Caroline Wagner ()
Additional contact information
Mathias Kifmann: Universität Hamburg, Hamburg Center for Health Economics
Caroline Wagner: Wissenschaftliches Institut der Techniker Krankenkasse für Nutzen und Effizienz im Gesundheitswesen (WINEG), (Scientific Institute of Techniker Krankenkasse for Benefit and Efficiency in Health Care)

A chapter in Health Care Provision and Patient Mobility, 2014, pp 49-66 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract We examine the implications of the EU directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare on the German sickness fund system. Since Germany implemented most requirements of the directive already in 2004, we first review Germany’s experience with EU cross-border healthcare. We then focus on the possible effects of increased EU cross-border healthcare. While this gives patients more choice, the German sickness fund system faces a number of challenges. EU cross-border care may undermine efforts to keep healthcare expenditure under control. Cross-border care can also increase inequality of access. Furthermore, promoting cross-border care can be a means for sickness funds to attract good risks. We discuss these challenges and point out possible policy responses.

Keywords: EU patients’ right directive; EU cross-border healthcare; Physician payment; Expenditure control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F15 H51 I13 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:dehchp:978-88-470-5480-6_3

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9788847054806

DOI: 10.1007/978-88-470-5480-6_3

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Developments in Health Economics and Public Policy from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().