Emergency call 112 remains free of charge: emergency service in Brandenburg reformed!

Emergency call 112 remains free of charge: emergency service in Brandenburg reformed!

Citizens' concerns about possible fees for the emergency services in Brandenburg can now be put aside. The Brandenburg District Council, together with the statutory health insurance companies, has signed a groundbreaking agreement that guarantees that the emergency number 112 remains free of charge in Brandenburg. This was widely welcomed and represents an important step towards security and certainty for all Brandenburgers. From July 1, 2025, the controversial fixed amounts will no longer apply in the districts of Barnim, Märkisch-Oderland, Oberhavel, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Spree-Neiße and Teltow-Fläming, such as bernau-live.de reports.

Health Minister Britta Müller emphasized the importance of this step: “It should not be a question of cost when people in need need help.” In lively negotiations that began on March 28, those involved managed to establish a clear and fair cost-performance calculation. The new regulation stipulates that only economically understandable and legally permissible costs may be taken into account, so that no one has to worry about fees for alerting the emergency services. This was also noted by radiocottbus.de.

The background to the agreement

The discussion about fees in the emergency services has been a hot topic since yesterday. The background was conflicts over cost types that were fought between districts and health insurance companies. Uncertainty about various costs, such as empty runs or incorrect deployments, has caused significant problems in the past. The dark cloud of fees that might have to be paid hung over citizens' heads for a long time before light was finally shed.

In addition, uncertainty remains regarding the open regulatory review procedures at the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court regarding fee regulations in the Teltow-Fläming district. According to the Brandenburg Emergency Services Act, the districts and independent cities are responsible for the ground-based rescue service and are generally allowed to charge user fees, which are usually borne by the statutory health insurance companies. The service is therefore clearly a state matter and is subject to the current emergency services law, which defines a new structure and rules for emergency care in the state, as bravors.brandenburg.de shows.

A stable rescue service for everyone

The new law requires that the emergency service is covered not only by fees, but also by an appropriate financing plan, which provides clarity for everyone involved. In order to ensure the necessary quality and efficiency, the cost-performance calculation and the framework conditions are regularly checked and adjusted. This is particularly important given the challenges that can arise in emergency care.

Overall, the agreement shows that open dialogue and constructive negotiations between the districts and health insurance companies are crucial to ensuring a stable and reliable rescue system in Brandenburg. Citizens can now call 112 with confidence without having to worry about bills.