Tuesday, June 1st, 2021
Most providers work seriously
Spahn calls fraud in test sites “mess”
The Federal Minister of Health is very clear on the subject of fraud. He expects criminal prosecution for fraudsters to follow. But he also makes it clear that the many private test sites were necessary and that most of them work seriously. Spahn is self-critical on one point.
In addition to the downgrading of the risk assessment from “very high” to “high” by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), another topic was hotly debated at today’s press conference: fraud in some private test centers. Health Minister Jens Spahn said this was a “mess”. The public prosecutor’s offices have already determined and criminal consequences would have to follow. However, he emphasized that many test providers would work very conscientiously and seriously. He particularly emphasized the role of doctors, pharmacists, the Red Cross as well as fire brigades and other auxiliary services. One must now be careful that not all of them are turned into frauds.
Spahn summed up that there are now around 15,000 test sites in Germany. He pointed out that Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wanted to use empty catering establishments as test centers at an early stage, which is why the idea of commissioning private providers arose. On the other hand, Spahn explained that in the spring there were indications from many federal states that approval of private providers as testers was also necessary so that tests can take place across the board. It won’t work without them. Therefore, there was initially great pragmatism in the approval of private providers, said Spahn.
Balance between speed and control difficult
Spahn self-critically admitted that he had tried to find a good balance: on the one hand, the pragmatic, rapid approval of many private test centers in order to offer tests as widely as possible, on the other hand, the best possible control of the tests. In the initial phase, the focus was on rapid approval and less on controls. The right balance had to be found first.
He compared this development with the economic aid paid to companies in the early stages of the pandemic. Initially, they flowed very quickly, but after cases of fraud became known, the hurdles for applying for aid were raised. The result was that the so-called November aid, for example, was only paid out in February or March. The situation is similar now with the frauds in the test stations. At first they emerged rapidly and had an effect, but now there are very well-founded allegations of fraud there too, to which one must react.
Local authorities cannot control billing
However, local authorities could not check billing fraud, according to Spahn. Regulatory authorities or health authorities were only responsible for controls when commissioning the test stations, for example whether the employees were qualified or whether hygienic standards were being observed in the test stations. Spahn wanted to continue to talk to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and the Ministry of Finance about checking the bill. That would have to be designed much better.
As far as the billing is concerned, Spahn said clearly: “Anyone who has paid 3.50 euros for a test cannot charge 6 euros for it. If that is done, it is fraud.” The remuneration will drop anyway, so Spahn, presumably to three to four euros. He had already decided that the week before. However, the remuneration for taking the samples should also be reduced. In addition, Spahn made it clear that a review of the market situation should have taken place after two to three months anyway. If the number of test centers increases massively, the prices, for example for material, would fall at some point. After the review, this would have been reflected in the remuneration for the tests.
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