Lower Austria, Vienna, and the Federation present new actual-cost billing for air rescue

The background to the conflict was a dispute between Lower Austria, Vienna, and the Federation over which entity assumes which amounts for the helicopter missions. Until now, flat-rate payments and supplementary payments had run side by side, making the financial burden for the states of Vienna and Lower Austria difficult to plan. With the switch to actual-cost billing, the actual expenses are to be invoiced directly.

The solution now presented provides that the costs incurred during operations are determined on the basis of documented services and divided among the partners according to their respective responsibilities. This eliminates the previous overlaps that had regularly led to discussions about double payments and unresolved residual amounts.

For air rescue organisations such as the ÖAMTC and the Christophorus fleet, the agreement means greater predictability. At the presentation, it was emphasised that the care of patients is guaranteed at all times and that the new billing will not affect the operational readiness of the helicopters.

Reactions of those involved

Eva Prischl described the compromise as an important step for healthcare in eastern Austria. She pointed out that air rescue represents a central pillar of emergency medicine and that reliable financing is a prerequisite for rapid help from the air.

Anton Kasser emphasised that the new system also clarifies the Federation's cost responsibility. This establishes the transparency in air rescue financing that has been demanded for years. Kasser spoke of a model that could serve as a template for further cooperation between the Federation and the states.

Peter Hacker emphasised on behalf of the City of Vienna that the costs of helicopter missions will in future no longer be handled through complicated compensation payments, but directly on an actual-cost basis. For Vienna, this means a transparent and controllable use of funds.

Transitional phase until 2028

Until the new regulation is fully implemented, a transitional phase is planned, running until 2028. During this period, the technical, organisational, and accounting prerequisites are to be created so that the actual-cost billing can take effect smoothly. In this way, policymakers ensure that there are no gaps in care during the transition.

Observers regard the agreement as a long-overdue step. The years of negotiations had stalled due to differing views on Federation-state competences and on the question of which costs are billable. With the new agreement, a common framework is now defined that sets out the procedure for the coming years.