The statutory health insurance companies will reimburse patients on the costs of certain prescription and homeopathic medicines. These include some aspirin for heart attack and aftercare of iodide in thyroid diseases.
The so-called lifestyle drugs are no longer paid
The statutory health insurance companies will reimburse patients on the costs of certain prescription and homeopathic medicines. These include some aspirin for heart attack and stroke at follow-up of heart disease and iodide in thyroid diseases, such as the Federal Joint Committee of doctors, health insurers and patients on Tuesday in Bonn decided. The adopted amendment to the Medicines Policy with effect from 1 April.
No power and more weight loss product
Even some herbal remedies like St. John's wort for depression, cancer and mistletoe Bilobablätter ginkgo extract in dementia should be paid to the patient. In addition, funding from homeopathy and anthroposophy are so far approved for prescription, as they replace other funds from the new arrangements in the treatment. Drugs to enhance sexual prowess or appetite suppressant diet, smoking cessation agents, or against baldness and wrinkles are definitely not paid by the statutory health insurance. For such so-called lifestyle drugs, the Federal Joint Committee decided by doctors and cash on Tuesday in Bonn a specific taboo list.Among the funds that are specifically excluded from reimbursement, including preparations which are used "to increase the quality of life" or "to individual needs', or be applied only for the cosmetic treatment of consequences of natural aging processes.
Since 1 January will be reimbursed no more, no health care reform in the wake of prescription drugs in general, but must be paid by patients out of pocket. The Federal Committee agreed to decide the dispute on an exception list of 36 drugs with serious illnesses linked to them. The respective means need for such diseases are standard therapy.
Decision on legal grounds
For legal reasons the "therapeutic range", the committee saw, according to the Chairman Rainer Hess prompted to allow the controversial because of questionable efficacy of homeopathy and anthroposophy means to medical prescription. "It made no decision was technical and scientific reasons." The decision also means "no carte blanche for homeopathy." The reform savings target of around one billion euros for medicines would be reached regardless of the exceptions, said Hess.
Also by the medical profession and the cash uncertainties. "It lacks all rationality," said the Vice-Chairman of the Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Leonard Hansen. Policy and lawmakers have it but by design. For the representative of the patient's side, the decision went to homeopathic remedies on the other hand did not go far enough. She wanted a general clause for such agents and not their loyalty to the other ingredients.
Patient representatives are considering constitutional challenge
The new reimbursement guidelines for prescription and homeopathic medicines are met with representatives of patients and the pharmaceutical industry to criticism.The homeopathic doctors announced constitutional challenge to the almost complete exclusion of their medicines. The Alliance of Rare Diseases (AXIS) is concerned that preparations overlooked for its members and therefore no longer be reimbursed by health insurance. The Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI) spoke of a positive list by the back door.
BPI chief executive Henning Fahrenkamp criticized on Tuesday by the Federal Joint Committee presented exceptional performers list only active ingredients. It would be better for his words but have a list with indications for approved drugs continues then all should have been refunded. "That would have real therapy for the patients and thus diversity means better care." Overall, the exception list failed to be scarce.
Ulla Schmidt pleased with reimbursement list
Federal Health Minister Ulla Schmidt has expressed satisfaction with the changes adopted by the Federal Health Committee of the Medicines Policy. The list of non-prescription and homeopathic medicines paid for by the cash register is a good foundation, "so that patients continue to get what they need," Schmidt said on Wednesday in the ZDF "Morning Magazine".
The criticism of homeopathic doctors, the therapy would be restricted diversity through the list, did not accept Schmidt. "All are treated equally and there is no exclusion of any branch of therapy." Schmidt reiterated its forecast for the development of cash contributions: "This will be a year of contribution rate reduction." The funds have already been achieved in the first quarter savings.
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