Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Taxi Association reports: Non-emergency patient transports are being discontinued!

Rostock's specialist transport companies for patient transport are forced, with immediate effect, to temporarily suspend stretcher-chair and lying transports for insured persons of DAK-Gesundheit. This decision is not a voluntary measure, but the direct consequence of the lack of a financially viable remuneration agreement with DAK-Gesundheit since January 1, 2026.

In particular, transports without medical professional accompaniment are affected, including trips to dialysis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, to outpatient treatments, as well as discharge transports from hospitals, which by law require a two-person crew.

Reason: No viable remuneration - despite several opportunities for discussion in the last five months

Since the beginning of the year, there is no remuneration arrangement in place that covers the actual costs of service delivery. Several opportunities for discussion offered by the companies have remained without result. DAK-Gesundheit has so far not been willing to cover the demonstrably incurred (documented) travel costs, which take into account the statutory requirements, rising personnel and operating costs, as well as the necessary quality of care.

Why the companies cannot continue

The provision of chair transports and lying-down transports involves substantial effort:

• Legally mandated two-person crew; specially equipped vehicles
• Rising personnel, energy and operating costs; stringent labor and minimum wage regulations

Under these conditions, continuing the services without adequate remuneration would not be legally tenable, not justifiable, and economically impossible.

“We, the companies, have reliably provided these services for more than three decades, in some cases,” emphasize the actors. “We would continue to do so. But without fair, adequate remuneration, the current situation forces us to discontinue care for DAK-insured members.”

The patients are the ones bearing the burden.

As a result of the lack of an agreement, a care gap is now forming, affecting especially chronically ill and mobility-impaired people. Many of them rely on regular, safe and qualified transport.

The companies will continue to support those affected as best as possible, for example through advice, information on alternatives and coordination with treating facilities — to the extent that this is possible without an existing remuneration agreement.

Companies remain ready to discuss

The affected companies emphasize that they remain at all times ready for constructive discussions. The goal remains a reliable, economically viable and patient-oriented care. Due to the statutory mandate to ensure provision that health insurers must fulfill, the responsibility for organizing alternative transport options lies with DAK-Gesundheit.