Question · GOÄ fee schedule
What is the German GOÄ?
Short answer: for "What is the German GOÄ?", RAB Arztbesuche sends a licensed physician on a private home visit anywhere in Berlin — daily from 6 am to midnight, usually within 60 to 90 minutes.
The GOÄ (Gebührenordnung für Ärzte) is the federal ordinance that governs private physician billing in Germany. It defines a code, a base amount in euros and a permitted multiplier for every medical service.
Medically reviewed by Susanne Reiche · Last reviewed
Short answer
The GOÄ (Gebührenordnung für Ärzte) is the federal ordinance that governs private physician billing in Germany. It defines a code, a base amount in euros and a permitted multiplier for every medical service.
How the GOÄ works
The German physician fee schedule (GOÄ) is a federal ordinance issued by the Ministry of Health and is therefore binding on every private doctor in Germany — billing above or below it is unlawful. It lists about 2,900 medical services, each with a tariff code, a defined euro base amount and a description. Every examination, every consultation, every technical service, every rapid test has its own code. A private doctor's invoice is therefore always an itemised list — never a flat fee — and is verifiable for patient and insurer.
The base amount per code is multiplied by a 'Steigerungsfaktor' (multiplier). The standard cap is 2.3 for medical services (1.8 for technical services such as ECG), with a hard maximum of 3.5 where justified extra effort applies. When which multiplier is permitted is defined in the ordinance itself: increased time, special difficulty, unusual circumstances of service delivery. For factors above 2.3 (or 1.8 for technical services) the invoice must carry a written justification — e.g. 'above-average difficulty of history due to language barrier' or 'increased time due to multimorbidity'.
The current version of the GOÄ essentially dates from 1996 — a fundamental reform has been announced for years but has not yet entered into force (as of 2026). As a result certain modern services are mapped onto older analog codes. The logic remains: you pay for the medical service, not for the person or for a ride. The invoice is transparent, verifiable and, in case of dispute, reviewable by the private billing service and, ultimately, the Berlin Medical Chamber. Anyone who receives an invoice and does not understand the codes or factors has a right to an explanation — we are happy to walk you through it.
Example: how to read an invoice
A typical house-call invoice lists, for example: code 51 (out-of-hours visit) factor 2.3, code 3 (in-depth consultation) factor 2.3, code 8 (multi-organ examination) factor 2.3, plus a rapid-test code and travel fee. Total around 280 €. Each line carries the rationale for the chosen factor. If the private insurer disputes a point, the patient can discuss the exact code with the insurer — no black box, no flat-rate contract.
Key facts about the GOÄ
- Federal ordinance — binding on every private doctor in Germany.
- Around 2,900 service codes with defined euro base amounts.
- Standard multiplier cap: up to 2.3 medical, up to 1.8 technical, up to 3.5 with mandatory written justification.
- Invoice must list every code individually — flat fees are not permitted.
- Travel fees and out-of-hours surcharges have their own codes (50, 51, 56) and appear separately.
- Factor above 2.3 requires written justification on the invoice.
- Current version essentially dates from 1996 — reform pending for years.
- Disputes: private billing service, Berlin Medical Chamber, ultimately civil court.
Emergency? Dial the emergency number
If unconscious, with severe chest pain, breathlessness or heavy bleeding, dial 112 immediately. Our service complements the emergency services — it does not replace them.
Frequently asked questions
Can the doctor simply choose any multiplier?
No. Up to 2.3 (medical) and 1.8 (technical) is the standard cap and does not require written justification. Above that, the invoice must explain in writing why the higher factor applies.
Is there room to negotiate GOÄ fees?
Not on the base amount. Only a written individual fee agreement above factor 3.5 is possible — practically never used in the house-call service, because 3.5 covers any conceivable effort.
Who polices invoice accuracy?
Primarily the private billing service before dispatch, then your insurer during the claim and, in case of doubt, the Berlin Medical Chamber as regulator.