BVMed-Report

German Medical Technology Association, Reinhardtstr. 29b, D-10117 Berlin Phone: (+49) 30 246 255-0, eMail: [email protected] - www.bvmed.de Report No. 02/06 – February 2006

Switzerland introduces DRG conference: “Processes for the introduction of German DRG system innovations have been significantly accelerated” Bonn/. The processes for the per cent of innovations create improved Bern. As of 2008, Switzerland will in- introduction of medical technology in- processes and reduce the length of stay troduce a diagnosis related flat-rate novations in the hospital flat-rate reim- and do therefore not appear in the NUB payment system on the basis of the bursement (DRG) system have been procedures,” Dr. Leber said. He also envi- German G-DRG system. The Swiss significantly improved and accelerated. saged faster procedures – particularly via decision makers saw advantages in “In terms of the financing of innova- the flexible special charges of the DRG the type of cooperation with the sys- tions, the time that it takes until a DRG institute (InEK): “the time-lag for innova- tem provider, in that the German is included in the system is less than the tions has thus become significantly shor- DRG system is a non-commercial pro- two-year period previously discussed,” ter. Essentially, we no longer have inno- duct that is operated autonomous- said Karl-Heinz Tuschen from the Fede- vation gaps.” Companies experienced an ly (by clinics and health insurance ral Ministry of Health at the MedInform advantage in that complex medtech pro- funds). The German system is to be conference “Medical technology in the cedures were better reflected through adapted to Swiss conditions and in- G-DRG system” on 24 January 2006 in a progressive DRG splitting mechanism troduced nationwide as of 2008. Bonn. It is now important to critically ex- and broadened calculation data, the More at: www.swissdrg.org. amine whether the financing during the conference’s moderator, BVMed Director transition period is sufficient. General Joachim M. Schmitt, said. “We have an innovative industry,” Dr. According to the health ministry, the Health policy staff of Wulf-Dietrich Leber from the AOK fede- structure of the new reimbursement ral association noted. The procedure for system following the completion of the the parties selected the adoption of new examination and convergence phase in 2009 will be a mat- treatment forms (NUB) was, however, ter for discussion by spring 2007 at the Berlin. Annette-Widmann Mauz (CDU) hardly a reference point, he claimed. “99 latest. More: www.bvmed.de (Press). remains spokesperson on health po- licy for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the . She replaces Andreas Storm (CDU), who is moving Employers are demanding a premium model to become parliamentary state secre- tary in the Research Ministry. The new Berlin. The employers are demanding a employee. At the same time, no more spokesperson on health policy for the conversion to a premium model for the than 12.5 per cent of the salary is to be SPD parliamentary group in the Bun- reform of the healthcare system in order spent for the contributions so that a so- destag will be Carola Reimann, who to decouple sickness costs from employ- cial compensation through taxes is to be replaces Erika Lotz. The parliamentary ment. The model presented by the pre- made in the case of single earners with group of /The Greens in the sident of the Confederation of German incomes below 1,440 euros. Every health Bundestag have once again put for- Employers‘ Associations (BDA), Dieter insurance fund can freely decide on the ward Birgitt Bender as health spokes- Hundt, in Berlin in the middle of January amount of the premium. Furthermo- person. Chair of the health committee provides a premium of an average 180 re, the health insurance funds have the of the parliament is Dr. euros a month for every adult. Children freedom to conclude their own contracts (Left Party), formerly Minister of Social remain exempted from contributions. with physicians or hospitals. Affairs in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The employer‘s share is paid out to the More: www.bda-online.de.

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troversial; Health policy staff selected; Medtech innovations in the German sys- tem: Challenges and possible approaches illustrated by the example of DES; German Ministry of Economics publishes Medtech study; Switzerland introduces German DRG system; More than a third of clinics report losses; Moderate increase in hospi- tal costs of 0.9 per cent; Eight test regions for the electronic health card. AdvaMed and BVMed member compa- nies can receive „MedInsight Germany“ at a discounted subscription price of 600 euros per year (10 issues). The normal subscription fee is 1.200 euros for one year. Berlin. MedInform has published the from AdvaMed. MedInsight gives the la- You can order a free issue of the month- fifth issue of MedInsight, a background test news on Europe’s biggest Medtech- ly MedInsight in English language by e- report authored by the German MedTech market. mail at: [email protected]. experts Joachim M. Schmitt and Man- Topics from the new issue are e. g.: More information and online ordering fred Beeres together with Stephen Hull German Healthcare reform 2006 still con- at: www.medinsight.de.