German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA)

In late June 2020, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published funding priorities on its website. For the first time, the decision on the funding priorities was preceded by a consultation process. Healthcare stakeholders who are not members of the Innovation Committee were asked to come up with suggestions for funding topics and criteria.

The corresponding decision by the (the Federal Joint Committee) of January 16, 2020, was published in the Federal Gazette and came into force on April 9, 2020.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) comes into force on April 1, 2020. Among others, the amendments made concern the billing of the services within the framework of early detection of cervical cancer. Also, the new fee order item (GOP) for the human papillomaviruses (HPV) genotyping service was added.

Patients with a newly diagnosed glioblastoma will have an opportunity to benefit from the therapy with tumor-treating fields (TTF) at the expense of statutory health insurance. The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decided on March 20, 2020, the details concerning the indications and the quality assurance measures that will apply when prescribing this outpatient treatment method.

Balneophototherapy becomes covered by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) for patients suffering from moderate to severe neurodermatitis. The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decided to include this treatment option to contract medical care on March 20, 2020.

In severe cases of lipedema, the costs for liposuction will be covered by the statutory health insurance companies from January 2020. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) have added several new fee order items to the EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) and set the reimbursement.

On the 17th of February 2020, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) invited external stakeholders to suggest topics and criteria for future funding. Moreover, the submission of proposals for members of the new pool of experts was announced.

The patients diagnosed with osteoporosis requiring medication will be able to receive care within a structured treatment program (disease management program, DMP). The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decided in mid-January 2020 the details of participation and the various aspects of care.

The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has updated the nationwide requirements for disease management programs (DMP) for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The current DMP contracts must then be adjusted to the new requirements within one year of the decision coming into force. Around 225,000 legally insured patients are currently enrolled in a DMP for type 1 diabetes.

On the 19th of September 2019, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) concluded on the possible applications and limits of non-invasive molecular genetic tests (NIPT) at the expense of the statutory health insurance (SHI). The decision provides that a NIPT can be used in justified individual cases and after medical consultation.

Patients suffering from recurrent or long-lasting depression can be treated within a structured treatment program (Disease Management Program, DMP) in the future. The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decided on the 15th of August 2019 the details on the content of the new DMP after more than three years of consulting.

The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has signed a further contract for scientific monitoring and implementation of a trial study for NYHA III heart failure therapy optimization by means of continuous blood pressure measurement and monitoring using an implanted sensor in the pulmonary artery.