Andreas Gassen, chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), is advocating for the complete elimination of voluntary supplementary benefits offered by statutory health insurance funds in Germany. He argues that if cost savings are necessary within the healthcare system, these "nice to have" services, which vary by insurance provider and include treatments like homeopathy and professional dental cleanings, should be the first to be cut. Gassen criticizes health insurance funds for demanding reductions in physician fees while simultaneously spending significant amounts on these non-essential, often unproven, services. He estimates that abolishing these voluntary benefits could save nearly one billion euros annually, which could then be redirected to core medical care.