Germany

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.

In early-mid November 2021, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has initiated an evaluation procedure for early benefit assessment for two new cardiovascular technologies (Revivent TC™ by BioVentrix and Trilogy™ Heart Valve System by JenaValve Technology) in heart failure, and aortic valve insufficiency and stenosis, respectively.

In late October 2021, the BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices) has published the final version of the 2022 OPS procedure coding classification. 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.

In early October 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, 23 health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory.

On September 16, 2021, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has decided that it would not evaluate the proton therapy in a number of indications, including esophageal cancer and inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).