Vorarlberg hospitals warn over plan to end anonymous-birth funding

Vorarlberg’s public hospitals say a planned change could leave them paying the costs of anonymous births themselves, ORF reported. The hospitals called the proposal “particularly critical” in their response to a planned amendment to patient-protection legislation.

The amendment would reorganise services for protecting patients and clients. The patients’ ombudsman, currently run as an association, would become an independent state body. Health councillor Martina Rüscher of the Austrian People’s Party described the plan as making the service “independent, simpler and more efficient”.

Under the current rules, the operator of a hospital is entitled to reimbursement from public funds for an anonymous birth. Vorarlberg’s social fund covers the costs. The state wants to remove reimbursement to reduce administrative work.

The Vorarlberg Hospital Operating Company, which runs the state hospitals, said it generally supported reducing administrative work but warned that the draft would also end funding for the births. It said hospitals faced significant pressure to cut costs and that the hospital contribution law did not provide compensation for these cases.

Anonymous births are available in the maternity wards of public hospitals in Bregenz, Dornbirn and Feldkirch. Women can give birth without providing their names and incur no costs. The child is then placed with adoptive parents. The service is used about twice a year. Bregenz State Hospital also has a baby hatch.