The G-BA Innovation Committee recommends implementation in standard care for another completed projects in Germany

In late May 2025, the Innovation Committee of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published decisions recommending the transfer of several completed healthcare research and new forms of care projects into standard care. These projects addressed a range of topics, including peer support in psychiatric care, a web-based self-help program for relatives of individuals with depressive disorders, strengthening crisis resilience in outpatient medical practices, prevention and management of postoperative delirium, and structured aftercare following bariatric surgery.

The examples of successfully accomplished projects are provided below.

The project “ACHT – Obesity Care & Health Therapy for Structured, Cross-Sectoral Care After Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery” evaluated a digitally supported, structured, cross-sectoral, and community-based aftercare program for patients following bariatric surgery. The program established a care network connecting obesity centers with multidisciplinary teams and specialized practices. So-called "obesity guides" were responsible for coordinating the aftercare process. Patients used a dedicated app to document physical symptoms, body weight, and physical activity, among other health-related data. A digital case file facilitated cross-sectoral collaboration among all participating healthcare providers. However, the evaluation study design had limitations that affected the reliability of outcome assessment. These limitations were primarily due to structural differences between patient groups and varying participation rates, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these constraints, the Innovation Committee considers that the project’s results may help improve care structures and enhance the quality of life for patients after bariatric-metabolic surgery.

The project “WESPA – Increasing the Effectiveness of a Web-Based Self-Help Program for Relatives and Other Caregivers of People with Depressive Disorders” aimed to enhance the impact of a self-help program for family members of individuals with depression by incorporating email support. Participants received either standardized emails (e.g., motivational messages and reminders) or individualized emails (e.g., responses to specific questions). After four weeks, both types of email support led to a statistically significant reduction in the psychosocial stress experienced by family members, compared to written informational materials alone. Overall, the project offered valuable insights into a low-threshold, flexible support model for caregivers of people with depression. However, further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the intervention.

The Innovation Committee will forward the results of the projects to the relevant stakeholders for consideration.

The full details in German can be found here, here, here (ACHT project), and here (WESPA project).

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