Germany

On March 3, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the determined funding priorities for new forms of care. A total of seven prioritized topics are defined. The preparation of a complete application can be supported for a period of up to six months with a grant of up to a maximum of €75,000. The deadline for submitting ideas is May 17, 2022, at noon.

On February 17, 2022, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has decided to include the method of matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (M-ACI) on the knee joint in the case of symptomatic cartilage damage in the lists of reimbursed procedures in the hospital and ambulatory settings.

On February 16, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has published the decisions which recommended the transfer to standard care for three completed projects. The projects relate to the prevention of antibiotic resistance, improvement of healthcare in socially disadvantaged areas, and misuse of control colonoscopies in Germany.

In February 2022, two more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, thirty health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory.

On January 20, 2022, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has initiated an evaluation procedure for early benefit assessment for the use of a stent retriever (pRELAX by femtos) to treat vasospasm of cerebral arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

On December 26, 2021, the new health app was introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 28 health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory.

On December 16, 2021, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) announced the start of the procedure concerning a co-funded study in accordance with §137e of the Social Code Book V (SGB V) for a low-intensity pulsed ultrasound for the treatment of pseudarthroses.

On December 15, 2021, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has announced that seventeen applications for Innovation Funding of the new forms of care were accepted.

In December 2021, three more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 27 health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory.

In late November – early December 2021, the application period for 2023 ICD-10-GM (German modification of ICD-10 diagnosis codes), OPS (procedure codes), and DRG changes was opened by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), and the Institute for Hospital Remuneration Systems (INeK), respectively.

On November 12, 2021, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has announced the selection of thirty project ideas for Innovation Funding of the new forms of care within the framework of the two-stage application process. A total of 123 project ideas were received, and only thirty were accepted.

In late November 2021, the INeK (Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System) has published the DRG catalog (Fallpauschalen-Katalog) with the list of DRGs and add-on reimbursement categories (ZEs) for 2022. Seven new DRGs and seventeen ZE categories were added to the catalog in 2022.