In the lead-up to the passing of hospital reform legislation that includes changes to the nursing budget, the hospital association has indicated a willingness to compromise. However, the proposals made by the hospitals have been swiftly dismissed by the German Health Ministry. Hospitals are prepared to forgo the unchecked assumption that health insurers will fully cover nursing salaries as part of reforms in order to address existing budgetary mismanagement, contingent on changes to the legislative plans introduced by Health Minister Nina Warken and governmental factions.

Gerald Gaß, the chairman of the German Hospital Association (DKG), emphasized that hospitals would be willing to abandon their previous demands for every caregiver to be compensated independently of actual need in a well-executed reform. Instead, the proposal includes establishing a measurable cap for staffing at hospitals, which would be a significant departure from current practices where the funding system is perceived as overly permissive.

The ongoing discussions highlight a deepening discord between hospitals and the government on how best to handle nursing care amidst ongoing challenges in the healthcare system. The refusal to adopt new proposals reveals persistent issues in addressing nursing care budgets, which is critical for improving conditions for both caregivers and patients within German hospitals. Without reform, both patients and care staff may have to wait longer for necessary improvements.