Medizintechnologie e.V.
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info@bvmed.de
Reimbursement of Medical Devices
German industry slams cut in incontinence products reimbursement
Since 1993, incontinence products have not been subject to fixed prices, because it was always argued that they were too heterogeneous. However, on October 1 2004, the health insurance officially opened a consultation process aimed introducing a fixed pricing system for these products. BVMed says that, as a consequence of this process, the funds are looking to reduce reimbursement for a range of incontinence products - including training in product use and accompanying care - in certain cases by up to 60%. This means that for some procedures the price of the product itself may no longer be covered.
Furthermore, they are also looking to group individual items together in single price categories. BVMed argues that, not only is this against current care practices, but mixing heterogeneous products will also result in a significant fall the level and quality of daily care.
It says that the funds' forthcoming decisions are likely to have a negative impact on Germany's five million incontinence sufferers, including the chronically ill, wheelchair users and children with spina bifida. If the proposals are accepted in their present form, this would mean that wheelchair users who suffer from urinary incontinence and use products that conform to current medical standards will have to undertake their own urinary catheterisation, claims BVMed. Experts from medical device companies have estimated that these patients will also have to pay an extra euro200 ($246) per month from their own pockets.
BVMed is demanding an urgent revision of the proposals and is offering its services to help create a more balanced approach to the fixed-pricing and grouping system.
Full Title: CLINICA - World Medical Device & Diagnostic News
FILED 8 October 2004 COPYRIGHT 2004 PJB Publications Ltd
