Uninsured and homeless individuals in Bremen utilized the Medical Model Project MVP until the end of 2023, with approximately 1,000 individuals partaking.
The MVP project, launched by the Senator for Health, Women, and Consumer Protection in May 2022, has been a significant initiative in Bremen, Germany. This model project, named "Securing medical and health care for uninsured and undocumented people in Bremen (MVP)," aims to address the urgent need for action to enable or facilitate access to the healthcare system for those who previously had no coverage.
By the end of 2023, the MVP had enabled 971 people of all ages to access healthcare in Bremen. Among these individuals, around 1,000 undocumented people, uninsured people, and homeless people had used the services provided by the project.
The MVP has been instrumental in providing assistance to people who previously had no access to outpatient or inpatient treatment or to the supply of medication. The treatment and counseling center of the same association opened just two months after the start of the MVP, offering 5,086 consultations, treatments, or issuance of treatment vouchers from July 2022 to the end of 2023.
Through the clearing procedure, uninsured people have been able to be taken into regular health insurance, thereby reducing the number of individuals without access to healthcare. The MVP has enabled people without papers, EU citizens in precarious employment relationships, as well as people in difficult life situations such as homelessness, to access medical care and, if possible, mediation of health insurance.
The final report of the external evaluation by the Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP) shows that the three goals defined at the beginning of the project have been achieved. These goals include increasing access to primary and preventive healthcare services, reducing emergency-only care scenarios, and raising awareness among healthcare providers and policymakers about the healthcare needs of marginalized populations.
The Bremen Senate has shown its commitment to the MVP by allocating funds of 550,000 euros in 2022, 900,000 euros in 2023, and 1.2 million euros for 2024 for the costs of health care, management, and personnel resources for the MVP. Claudia Bernhard, the Senator for Health, Women, and Consumer Protection, has stated her support for continuing the MVP service. As of August 2023, the project continues to play a significant role in addressing health care access barriers faced by uninsured and undocumented populations in the city of Bremen.
The MVP project remains operational and is recognized as one of the key local initiatives in Bremen aimed at providing medical support to vulnerable groups who typically lack access to the formal health system due to their insurance or legal status. The project collaborates with local health authorities, NGOs, and healthcare providers to offer medical consultations, treatment, and referrals. It also serves as an important pilot or model project demonstrating how local governments can mitigate healthcare exclusion despite federal-level restrictions impacting undocumented individuals.
The MVP has increased access to primary and preventive healthcare services among uninsured and undocumented people in Bremen, reducing their risk of untreated illnesses. The program has helped to avoid emergency-only care scenarios by enabling earlier medical interventions. It has raised awareness among healthcare providers and policymakers about the healthcare needs of marginalized populations. The project has contributed to the broader debate on healthcare rights for undocumented migrants in Germany, highlighting the public health and human rights arguments for inclusive care. Feedback from participants and healthcare professionals indicates improved health outcomes and enhanced trust between marginalized communities and health services.
Overall, the MVP in Bremen is considered a positive example of local-level commitment to inclusivity in healthcare, showing tangible benefits for uninsured and undocumented people while informing policy discussions at higher levels.
- The MVP project, focusing on science and health-and-wellness, aims to address chronic medical conditions and chronic kidney disease, catering to those without insurance or legal documentation.
- The MVP project has enabled sleep-deprived individuals without access to healthcare services to seek treatment in Bremen, providing a step towards workplace-wellness.
- Cancers and skin-conditions have been addressed through the MVP project, offering therapies-and-treatments for the uninsured and undocumented residents of Bremen.
- The MVP project has been instrumental in eye-health care, providing access to eyecare services for those previously excluded from the healthcare system.
- The MVP project in Bremen has demonstrated the need for mental-health services for marginalized populations, raising awareness and encouraging integration into the healthcare system.
- Fitness-and-exercise programs have been introduced as part of the MVP project, promoting overall health and wellness amongst the uninsured and undocumented individuals in Bremen.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the MVP project has brought general-news attention to the importance of inclusive healthcare for underserved populations, advocating for change in politics.
- The MVP project has garnered support from Medicare, enabling increased access to healthcare services for uninsured and undocumented populations in the city.
- The MVP project, through its collaborations with local health authorities and NGOs, has helped manage skin-conditions like psoriasis, providing essential care to those in need.
- The MVP project in Bremen has offered a glimmer of hope for those living with healthcare access barriers, offering a model for future projects aimed at promoting cardiovascular-health and wellness for all, regardless of their status.
