Emergency service in Brandenburg: Free for emergencies now!

Emergency service in Brandenburg: Free for emergencies now!

In Brandenburg it is now official: anyone who calls an ambulance will no longer have to worry about any costs. On Monday, the Association of Substitute Insurance Funds and eight Brandenburg districts signed an agreement to finance the emergency service. This agreement provides great relief - especially for those who need quick help in emergencies. Daily Mirror reports that Health Minister Britta Müller moderated the negotiations and emphasized the importance of the topic: “People should feel safe when they call the emergency number 112.”

Until now, payment for so-called incorrect trips where there is no need for medical transport has been a contentious issue. This led to some districts asking patients to pay, as was the case in Märkisch-Oderland. But thanks to the new agreement, these costs will now be temporarily borne by the health insurance companies until a ruling is made in this regard by the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court. These uncertainties caused by the ongoing proceedings were a central reason for the escalating conflict at the beginning of the year, as already stated in a report by Märkischen General became known.

Constructive negotiations and future prospects

The chairman of the district council, Siegurd Heinze, sees the agreement as a strong political signal and underlines the importance of constructive exchange between the parties. The goal by June 30th was to find a solution to avoid cost notices to patients. “We were able to agree on 28 of 30 points,” reports Jörg Wagner, managing director of the Brandenburg district council, “but the controversial questions about wrong trips still need to be clarified.” This development shows that progress is being made despite existing challenges.

The rescue service in Brandenburg remains free of charge for patients, even in difficult times. Prime Minister Dr. Dietmar Woidke and Health Minister Müller have emphasized that the emergency number 112 can still be used without financial fear. “The peace obligation of at least eight weeks, which we introduced from April 1, 2025, has served its purpose, as no cost notices for emergency service operations will be issued during this time,” says Müller, summarizing the current situation.

In Brandenburg, a total of 14 districts and 4 independent cities are responsible for the ground-based rescue service. The costs incurred for this are usually covered by statutory health insurance companies. In order to further consolidate the financial basis, those responsible recognized the need for transparent and cost-covering cost-performance accounting. New fee regulations have already been decided and the current cost accounting approaches are being revised to reflect current reality. The state government's press release confirms that clear steps are now being taken to adapt.