Establishing social services for health promotion in health insurance states : Germany, Switzerland and Austria compared

Lückenbach, Caspar; Biehl, Verena; Gerlinger, Thomas

doi:10.1177/13882627231188671

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Establishing social services for health promotion in health insurance states : Germany, Switzerland and Austria compared
Authors:	Lückenbach, Caspar Biehl, Verena Gerlinger, Thomas
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.1177/13882627231188671
Published in:	European Journal of Social Security
Volume(Issue):	25
Issue:	2
Page(s):	217
Pages to:	237
Issue Date:	21-Aug-2023
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Sage
ISSN:	1388-2627 2399-2948
Language:	English
Subjects:	Welfare state; Health system; Health promotion; Prevention; Social investment; Social services; Institutionalisation
Subject (DDC):	614: Public health and prevention of disease
Abstract:	Prevention and health promotion are important areas of welfare state activity and can be considered parts of the critical infrastructure. They have been considerably expanded in Western welfare states in recent years. In the health insurance states of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, new forms of organisation have emerged. The article describes the evolution and status quo of the organisation of prevention and health promotion in the three countries and explores the legitimisation patterns for the chosen institutional forms. To this end, health reforms, debates and statements of key stakeholders are analysed. A distinction is made between ‘normative’ legitimisation patterns and ‘functional’ ones that indicate a ‘social investment’ strategy. In Germany, the 2015 Prevention Act created an institutional structure in which the actors involved cooperate closely. It also gives the health insurance funds a prominent role. In Switzerland, the cantons are responsible for prevention and health promotion; at federal level the main bodies are the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) and the Swiss Foundation for Health Promotion (Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz). In Austria, the Länder are largely responsible, but the federal level gained importance by establishing Gesundes Österreich GmbH and strengthening coordination. While the term ‘social investment’ is not encountered in the debates and documents analysed, many arguments commonly associated with it are increasingly used in the context of prevention and health promotion. In contrast, normative justifications seem to be losing importance.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/28536
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Public Health (IPH)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Lückenbach, C., Biehl, V., & Gerlinger, T. (2023). Establishing social services for health promotion in health insurance states : Germany, Switzerland and Austria compared. European Journal of Social Security, 25(2), 217–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/13882627231188671

Lückenbach, C., Biehl, V. and Gerlinger, T. (2023) ‘Establishing social services for health promotion in health insurance states : Germany, Switzerland and Austria compared’, European Journal of Social Security, 25(2), pp. 217–237. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/13882627231188671.

C. Lückenbach, V. Biehl, and T. Gerlinger, “Establishing social services for health promotion in health insurance states : Germany, Switzerland and Austria compared,” European Journal of Social Security, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 217–237, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1177/13882627231188671.

LÜCKENBACH, Caspar, Verena BIEHL und Thomas GERLINGER, 2023. Establishing social services for health promotion in health insurance states : Germany, Switzerland and Austria compared. European Journal of Social Security. 21 August 2023. Bd. 25, Nr. 2, S. 217–237. DOI 10.1177/13882627231188671

Lückenbach, Caspar, Verena Biehl, and Thomas Gerlinger. 2023. “Establishing Social Services for Health Promotion in Health Insurance States : Germany, Switzerland and Austria Compared.” European Journal of Social Security 25 (2): 217–37. https://doi.org/10.1177/13882627231188671.

Lückenbach, Caspar, et al. “Establishing Social Services for Health Promotion in Health Insurance States : Germany, Switzerland and Austria Compared.” European Journal of Social Security, vol. 25, no. 2, Aug. 2023, pp. 217–37, https://doi.org/10.1177/13882627231188671.