[New physician reimbursement guidelines and private health insurance. I. Changes in general liquidation regulations]

In Germany, physicians' charges for the treatment of private patients have to be based on a fee-for-service schedule that is established by law. Every few years medical progress and changes of economic and legal conditions require major amendments. The latest adjustment reduces the accounts for laboratory tests and advanced imaging techniques. Further regulations concern the better information of patients about treatment costs and a reduced upper limit of fees for in-patient procedures not performed by the head of the department himself. For private insurers it is a challenge to identify the quite frequent medical accounts which are not in accordance with the complex fee schedule.