Medical Practices Report Revenue Growth in Early 2024

Recent data from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians indicates that medical practices in Germany experienced notable revenue increases during the first half of 2024. Both contracted physicians and psychotherapists saw improvements in their average earnings, reflecting broader trends in healthcare service compensation.

According to the financial reports, the average fee income for practitioners across all specialties reached approximately 65,720 euros in the first quarter of 2024. This figure represents a 2.9% rise compared to the same period in the previous year. The second quarter followed suit, with an average income of 64,269 euros, marking a 5.5% increase year-over-year. These numbers are calculated before deducting practice-related expenses, taxes, and other costs.

The report further highlights that the average revenue per patient case increased as well. In the first quarter of 2024, the average income per treatment case rose by 4.8% to 80.85 euros. Despite this, the number of cases handled by each physician declined by 1.8%. The second quarter saw the average revenue per case climb by 3.9% to 81.54 euros, with the patient case volume per physician increasing by 1.5%.

Both general practitioners and specialists contributed to the overall growth in practice revenues. For general practitioners, the average fee income in the first quarter grew by 4% to 66,504 euros compared to the previous year. The second quarter saw an increase of 5.3% to 64,889 euros. Specialist physicians also experienced gains, with a 2.3% rise in the first quarter to 65,398 euros and a 5.7% jump in the second quarter to 64,042 euros.

The uptick in revenues is attributed to an increase in the total budget allocated for outpatient care of patients insured under statutory health insurance. In the first quarter of 2024, the total remuneration available for these services rose by 558.5 million euros, representing a 4.8% increase and reaching 12.1 billion euros. The second quarter saw an even larger growth, with the total sum expanding by 658.8 million euros--a 5.8% rise--bringing the total to 12 billion euros.

This financial performance underscores the continued demand for outpatient medical and psychotherapeutic services in Germany. The increases in both overall practice income and per-patient earnings reflect adjustments in healthcare funding and compensation structures, aimed at supporting the delivery of care within the statutory health insurance system. The evolving financial landscape is likely to influence practice management, resource allocation, and service provision across the country as practitioners adapt to changing reimbursement frameworks and patient needs.