The Association of German Pet Owners (VDTH) Files Lawsuits Against the Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT)

The amended GOT has been in effect since November 2022—and according to the VDTH, there has been a gap between the law and practice ever since. The core problem: The regulation does not specify exactly when a veterinarian is permitted to charge the single, double, triple, or quadruple rate. According to the VDTH’s observations, this ambiguity has been increasingly interpreted in recent years in favor of veterinarians—the range between the single and triple rates, and between the double and quadruple rates for emergency services, has consistently shifted upward.

Conversely, while it is theoretically possible to charge less than the standard rate, in practice it is so difficult that it virtually never happens. Competition on price? It doesn’t exist.

The GOT thus creates, without any competition, a comfortable financial safety net that is defended by the veterinary community.

Sabine Reimers-Mortensen, president of the VDTH.

Over 1,000 digits, no commentary

Fee calculations made independently of the GOT are considered impermissible—at least according to the veterinary community’s interpretation. At the same time, there is no binding guidance on the correct application of the more than 1,000 fee codes. The combination of a rigid set of rules and open-ended interpretation allows for bills that amount to many times the usual fee. Even the German Federal Veterinary Chamber does not dispute this.

What the Ministry Actually Wanted

It is worth noting the perspective of the Ministry of Agriculture. An internal memo from the preparatory phase of the amendment states: The basic rate may be reduced on a voluntary basis if the livestock owner is in financial distress. Furthermore, billing at a rate higher than the basic rate is required only in justified individual cases—the basic rate is generally sufficient to cover costs. There is a considerable gap between this theoretical assessment and the actual billing practices in place—at the expense of animal owners.

Lawsuits and Complaints in Brussels

The VDTH now intends to seek a legal ruling on this matter. In the coming weeks, it will file several lawsuits to assert claims for reimbursement of invoices it has already paid but considers to be excessive.

Violation of the EU Services Directive?

At the same time, the association is preparing a complaint with the European Commission regarding a possible violation of the EU Services Directive. This includes, for example, the German federal government’s justification for the state fee regulation. It also covers the house call fee introduced with GOT-2022. This fee can be charged multiple times if a veterinarian treats several animals belonging to different owners at the same location—a mechanism that, according to the VDTH, leads to systematic overcompensation and double billing and has little to do with the actual effort involved in a single house call.