A pricing regulations case study

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Government-controlled pricing model

Alright class, raise your hand if you know what the phrase ‘Gebührenordnung für Tierärzte’ means.

Don’t worry. We’re here to help. Gebührenordnung für Tierärzte (GOT) translates to "fee schedule for veterinarians" and is the German government’s program that regulates the costs that practitioners can and must charge for their work.

This week, VIN News Service had an interesting story covering the program, and its implications in a modern world.

The pricing scale dates back to World War II amid the Nazi regime's goal to coordinate of all elements of society. But even as Germany has transformed into a modern capitalist democracy, the program has lived on. The thinking is that the lower limit of the pricing scale ensures veterinarians are properly compensated, while the upper limit protects pet owners from excessive bills.

Amidst high inflation and rising costs of care, the GOT has become something a safeguard against perceived price gauging and the associated anti-veterinarian sentiment.

The pricing model is comprehensive, and takes into account a number of factors such as standard vs. emergency care, and it is illegal for veterinarians to charge below the government-set base fee or more than triple the base fee for any given procedure.

Some practitioners dislike the government oversight and regulation. After all, Germany has free market capitalism in most other industries. Why should veterinarians be limited? While others see the GOT as a possible case study that other countries could study to address the steep rises in the cost of veterinary care.

So, what do you think? Should governments stay far away from fee regulation, or could this be a possible solution to limit price increases, ensure vets are paid properly, and reduce anti-veterinarian sentiment?

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AVMA Chart of the Month

Meeting the needs of your clients can come in all shapes and sizes. This could be as basic as accessibility of care, or proximity to specialist referrals. But it also may mean something as simple as being able to communicate effectively.

Understanding and embracing the diversity of languages spoken in your community remove barriers to veterinary care, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen client relationships. 

That’s why the AVMA Chart of the Month is looking at linguistic diversity this month:

Key takeaways:

• 22% of the US population speaks a language other than English at home, but varies widely by state: ranging from 2% in West Virginia to 45% in California and 95% in Puerto Rico.

• Overall, 32 states have populations where at least 10% of people speak a language other than English at home.

• The most common languages are Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Arabic.

Does your clinic properly cater to the needs of your community?

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Quick Hits

Here are some of the other stories that caught our eye and we're following this week from around the veterinary world and animal kingdom: