Brandenburg's ambulance fee dispute leaves patients facing unexpected bills

A dispute over emergency transport costs in Brandenburg has escalated as more districts begin billing patients for ambulance call-outs without hospital transport. Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) had urged a resolution last year, but negotiations remain unresolved despite fresh talks this week. The issue first surfaced in 2025 when Märkisch-Oderland became the first district to issue fee notices for non-transport emergency calls. Health Minister René Wilke (SPD) criticised the move as premature, urging officials to wait for the outcome of ongoing discussions.

A court ruling later confirmed that health insurers were not required to cover costs for ambulance call-outs where no transport occurred. An agreement last summer excluded these cases, leaving the financial burden unclear.

By April 2026, ten of Brandenburg's 14 districts—including Potsdam, Cottbus, Oberhavel, and Uckermark—had started sending fee notices. However, a moratorium was announced last week, temporarily stopping planned charges in Cottbus and Dahme-Spreewald.

This week, new negotiations between the state government, local authorities, and insurers began in an attempt to settle the dispute. The district of Märkisch-Oderland will proceed with billing patients for non-transport emergency call-outs from late April 2026. With no final agreement in place, further districts may follow unless a resolution is reached soon.