Germany

In late January 2020, the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and health insurance provider Barmer have signed an integrated care contract for the telemedical management of patients with chronic heart failure. Also, the benefit assessment process at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has already started, and a result is expected in spring 2021.

On January 30, 2020, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has published the List of the requests for innovation funding (NUB), submitted by the hospitals until October 31, 2019. Out of 778 technologies, 201 (26%) received the positive status 1, which means that the evaluated procedure or medical device meets the NUB criteria and allows the hospitals to negotiate with the sickness funds for the innovation funding for these technologies.

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.

From January 2020, the "Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score" test is reimbursed by the health insurance companies at an extra budget of 3,296.50€. This is explicitly the only test that the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has included in the contracted medical care.

At the start of the organized program for the early detection of cervical cancer on January 1, 2020, several new services will be added to the EBM (Einheitlicher Bewertungsmaβstab, German Uniform Evaluation Standard).

With the support of Aaron.ai, the first health application from the project “KBV Future Practice” ("KBV-Zukunftspraxis") was launched in Germany. About 50 medical practices are now testing the smart telephone assistant in their daily work. The evaluation of the practical tests is carried out by the Charité.

In late October 2019, the DIMDI (German Institute of Medical Documentation and Information) has published the final version of the OPS 2020 (Operation and Procedure Keys). The OPS, together with the ICD-10-GM (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, German Modification) forms the basis for the reimbursement systems in outpatient and inpatient care.

The National disease management guideline for chronic heart failure with recommendations for diagnostics and therapy has been revised. It is now available free of charge on the internet pages of the Medical Center for Quality in Medicine.

On behalf of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) investigated whether wearing a lower jaw protrusion splint (Unterkieferprotrusionsschiene, UPS) is beneficial for obstructive sleep apnea.

In order to promote the video consultations, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband) have agreed on several new regulations. Thus, a video consultation will also be possible if the patient has not been previously treated by the doctor. For psychotherapies, the video consultations were reopened.

In early September 2019, the Innovation Committee of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has published an overview of new research projects in the area of health services to be funded by the Innovation Fund in the future.

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.