Before cabinet decision: SPD threatens to block nursing care reform
SPD General Secretary Klüssendorf is calling for more relief for nursing home residents and a further restructuring of financing. According to ARD information, the SPD is threatening to let the care reform fail for the time being.
Shortly before a planned cabinet appointment for Health Minister Carsten Linnemann's care reform plans, the SPD spoke out against cuts. There is a lot going on when it comes to care, explained General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf. "There is a risk of massive cuts, especially for carers, those in need of care, but also their relatives. But we won't allow that." He emphasized: “We do not accept any reduction in services in care.” Klüssendorf called for more relief for nursing home residents and a further restructuring of financing.
In his statement shared in an Instagram video, the Social Democrat left it open what this means with regard to Linnemann's plans. The CDU minister wants to bring a bill to the black-red cabinet next week that is intended to stabilize the finances of statutory nursing care insurance next year. The nursing care funds are under great pressure, and a billion-dollar deficit is expected for 2027. According to information from coalition circles, discussions are still ongoing regarding Linnemann's plans. However, according to information from the ARD capital studio, the SPD is threatening to let the project fail for the time being. SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch told Bild am Sonntag that the current proposal from the Ministry of Health is primarily a package of cuts: “The necessary structural reforms are missing so far.” The SPD parliamentary group is not going along with a pure cuts package.
The nursing care reform currently being discussed is about covering the billion-dollar nursing care insurance deficit expected for 2027 and avoiding general premium increases. Details are still unclear. Linnemann said in the Bundestag on Wednesday that he wanted to bring the project to the cabinet next week. "We spend around 74 billion euros a year on nursing care insurance, and we have to save eight billion euros for next year. That shows what a challenge this is."
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