[Quo vadis, rehabilitation? Comments on the cost savings package by the federal government].

In the framework of the austerity measures contained in the programme for enhancing growth and employment, drastic cutbacks have been launched for the medical rehabilitation benefits available under the health insurance and pension insurance schemes. The legal entitlement to vocational rehabilitation benefits under the employment promotion act has been transformed into a discretionary entitlement, and will in future be contingent on available budgetary resources of the federal employment service Bundesanstalt fur Arbeit. A characteristic of all of these measures is their purely budgetary focus. Given a background of adverse trends in economic activity and employment, the field of rehabilitation could certainly not turn a deaf ear to the demand to economize. Presented is an overview of the impact the austerity legislation will have in the field of rehabilitation, in particular taking a closer look at the issue of whether the measures devised are conceptually grounded, or whether mere budgetary goals are being targetted. The potential for economizing by way of innovative approaches and greater flexibility is pointed out as a viable alternative.