BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - In view of the budget crisis, the German Hospital Association is calling for clarity regarding the financing of the planned hospital reform. In the draft of Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), the financing is still a "complete blank", criticized association head Gerald Gaß in the "Augsburger Allgemeine" (Thursday). "The Federal Minister of Health must finally show a clear edge here and admit where the money is coming from and how much money will actually be available for the transformation," warned Gaß.

The federal and state health ministers will discuss the planned hospital reform again on Thursday. The meeting in Berlin is intended to provide further clarification in order to get a draft bill off the ground. According to the federal government, the points of criticism raised can be resolved. Lauterbach's plans essentially envisage changing the remuneration system for clinics with flat rates for treatment cases in order to relieve them of financial pressure to treat more and more cases.

Gaß complained that the federal government did not address any of the seven main points of criticism from the federal states in the working draft for the meeting. Bavarian Health Minister Judith Gerlach also told the Münchner Merkur newspaper (Thursday): "I have the impression that Lauterbach is sticking to his line, regardless of what the federal states say." "Legal action is still an option," the CSU politician made clear. "We will decide when the final draft bill is available and we can assess its constitutionality."/shy/DP/zb