Seven out of ten medical practices complain about problems with missed appointments for their patients. In 40 percent of the practices affected, it is about 5 to 10 percent of all appointments for which patients do not show up.
This is the result of an online survey by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, which the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” reported on. In numerous practices, the proportion is even 10 to 20 percent.
It is more than annoying when patients book appointments and simply let them pass, complained KBV boss Andreas Gassen. “The appointments are blocked and are then not available for other patients.”
In order to limit the damage, Gassen renewed the Federal Association’s demand for a “cancellation fee to be paid by the health insurance companies if their insured persons make appointments and then do not keep them”. Conversely, demands on the practices for faster and more appointments are “simply ridiculous” in view of the numbers.
