Warken wants to lower construction standards for care homes and pay out subsidies later

The minister also criticized overregulation of the homes: "Es sei zu viel verpflichtend und zu wenig flexibel", Warken said. "Auch das macht Pflegeplätze in Einrichtungen teuer." However, the states are responsible for building regulations – "Zuständig für die Regeln sind die Länder", as the ministry said.

In addition to the push on construction standards, Warken also defended the planned postponement of higher relief levels for the care supplement. According to a draft from her ministry, the higher subsidies are to take effect six months later in the future. Warken emphasized: "Wir schaffen diesen Zuschlag nicht ab, können die höheren Zuschüsse aber jeweils erst etwas später gewähren."

Postponed Subsidies: 2.6 Billion Euros in Relief

The care supplements, which care home residents receive on a graduated basis depending on length of stay, more than doubled to over seven billion euros between 2022 and 2025, according to the minister. With the postponement of the levels, the long-term care insurance is to be relieved by 2.6 billion euros in the coming year.

The measure is part of a larger legislative package with which the federal government wants to cover a billion-euro deficit in 2027 and avoid higher contribution rates for those insured. According to the ministry's calculations, however, the states and municipalities would have to expect additional expenditure of one billion euros in social welfare in the coming year, because those in need of care would have to wait longer for higher subsidies.

Warken acknowledged that the postponement could have "Auswirkungen". At the same time, she pointed to other relief measures: "Aber wir entlasten an anderer Stelle und schaffen Planungssicherheit – zum Beispiel, indem die Leistungen künftig jährlich dynamisiert werden und wir Pflegebedürftigkeit durch einen deutlich stärkeren Präventionsansatz vermeiden und verzögern." Overall, these relief measures should "perspektivisch ausgleichen" the feared additional burdens.

Even after the change, long-term care insurance would contribute "deutlich stärker" to care costs than before 2022, Warken argued. The reform is part of a far-reaching overhaul of statutory health and long-term care insurance that has already triggered protests nationwide.

Criticism from the Städtetag and the States

The German Städtetag sharply criticized the plans. President Markus Lewe described them as "ein Schlag ins Gesicht der Kommunen". Cities and municipalities would have to absorb the burdens from the cut subsidies through social welfare, while long-term care insurance benefits.

Criticism also came from the ranks of the states. Since the construction standards for homes fall within their remit, they would have to go along with any reduction. It remains to be seen whether Warken's initiative will find a majority in the upcoming negotiations with the states.

Protests and Outlook

The reform plans come amid an already tense mood in the care sector. In recent weeks, employees, doctors from practices, and hospitals have taken to the streets nationwide against the federal government's austerity measures. The long-term care funds have repeatedly warned of rising contributions should the reform fail to take effect.

At the same time, Warken advocated the preventive approach of her reform. If the need for care is avoided or delayed, the pressure on homes and funds will also decrease in the long term. Whether this effect can offset the financial consequences of the postponed subsidies is currently unclear.