Hannover – November 03, 2026 -- Care providers in Lower Saxony answer to 54 separate inspection and oversight bodies, and about 5,000 jobs in the state are at risk if a federal reform takes effect on schedule, according to the private providers' association bpa.

State chair Ricarda Hasch presented the figures at the association's general assembly in Hannover, attended by around 200 representatives of care facilities from across Lower Saxony. She said bpa is not asking to lower quality standards or scrap necessary inspections. Her complaint is that different authorities repeatedly check the same matters and demand documentation that adds no visible value to care quality.

bpa demands coordinated cuts to duplicate inspections

Hasch called on federal, state and municipal governments to act jointly to eliminate duplicate inspections, align responsibilities and remove superfluous documentation duties. She argued that every hour skilled and managerial staff spend on avoidable bureaucracy is lost to residents, staff leadership and the development of facilities.

Reform bill threatens 5,000 jobs in Lower Saxony

The providers' sharpest criticism targeted the Care Reorganisation Act (PNOG), which the Bundestag is due to debate in the coming weeks. Hasch warned that 5,000 jobs in Lower Saxony alone are at stake if care services are barred from offering relief services from January 1. Tens of thousands of people needing care would lose low-threshold everyday support, she said.

Providers in Lower Saxony will take to the streets on November 17 to protest the law.

Minister Philippi backs less control and a practice-led commission

Lower Saxony Health Minister Andreas Philippi said trust must be built while controls and bureaucracy are reduced. He assigned this task to the care structure commission, which was set up only days ago, and said it can succeed only if it involves practitioners. He urged all stakeholders to develop ideas for implementing social reform and to settle who bears how much of the savings burden. He also called on the federal government and the commission to heed those affected and the criticism from the states.