Signatures gathered for referendum against care funding
Published: Tuesday, Apr 9th 2024, 12:50
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The Swiss Association of Public Service Employees (VPOD) has collected almost 58,000 signatures against the reform of the uniform financing of nursing care. The signatures are currently being validated before they are handed over to the Federal Chancellery on April 18, VPOD President Christian Dandrès told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Tuesday.
The French-speaking Swiss daily newspaper "Le Temps" had previously reported. The people could vote on the bill before the end of the year.
The referendum attacks planned changes to care financing that were approved by parliament in the winter session. The VPOD fears that this reform could give the health insurance companies too much power. According to the association, this could lead to an increase in premiums.
The bill provides for uniform financing of outpatient and inpatient care between the cantons and the health insurance funds. Currently, the cantons - and therefore taxpayers - finance at least 55% of inpatient services that require hospitalization. The remainder is borne by the health insurers, i.e. the premium payers.
In the outpatient sector, services are covered in full by compulsory health insurance. As outpatient care is cheaper than inpatient care, the trend is towards outpatient treatment. However, this is also driving up costs for insurers.
The new system is aimed at equalizing the assumption of costs. It also covers long-term care in nursing homes and at home. The reform, which came about after 14 years of work in parliament, is supported by the major professional associations of Swiss doctors and the hospital umbrella organization H+.
©Keystone/SDA
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