Saturday, 31 March 2007
discount contracts with health insurance from April 1
Significant changes for the insured!
million of insured persons must be prepared to get soon prescribed only affordable medicines very specific manufacturer. Thus, the cost of medicines for health insurance will drop. This view of health care reform before new regulations that are to take effect April 1, 2007. This is the first time allows health insurance exclusive discount agreements with certain drug manufacturers abzuschließen.Die General Local Health Insurance had been in early February, the legislative process was still running, announced that they have completed for 43 active ingredients discount agreements. From this, they hope to tens of millions in savings. Why should the doctors AOK insured possible only prescribe the discount means. For the chronically ill, in many cases this will mean a big change, as they increasingly take their familiar will get a new agent, which is mentioned in the discount contracts. Affected are those compounds for which patents have expired and are therefore taken from several manufacturers on the market, the so- called generic drugs.
The AOK has completed nationwide and regional discount agreements at the country level, which ergänzen.Die AOK Baden-Württemberg, for example, negotiated a regional contract discount, will also benefit from the doctors. 30 percent of the savings will by prescription discount drugs leave the AOK get the doctors, the rest will keep it themselves. Save patients the legal supplement of five to ten euro.
The AOK has played a pioneering role
at the conclusion of discount contracts
The AOK has made relatively minor producer in Germany under contract, representing only the market shares of not more than 4%. This supply problem is almost inevitable. AOK insured is therefore quite possible soon have no other choice than two times to go to the pharmacy because the drugs must be ordered only for them. Also also waiting longer to be expected then.
The pharmacist can then help the patient, barely, because of the health reform, new regulations enter into force, leaving only little room for maneuver. With the tightening of the so-called "no substitution scheme (exchange control) the pharmacists are forced to leave only the drugs for which the cash register of the patient has signed a rebate agreement. This applies even if the doctor does not discount drugs, such as that which has received the patient had always been prescribed on the prescription. There is one exception only if the doctor explicitly "aut idem" rule out the recipe by making it there a cross.
The pharmacist can then help the patient, barely, because of the health reform, new regulations enter into force, leaving only little room for maneuver. With the tightening of the so-called "no substitution scheme (exchange control) the pharmacists are forced to leave only the drugs for which the cash register of the patient has signed a rebate agreement. This applies even if the doctor does not discount drugs, such as that which has received the patient had always been prescribed on the prescription. There is one exception only if the doctor explicitly "aut idem" rule out the recipe by making it there a cross.
with a cross at "aut idem" nor may the specialist's prescription proven
drug be given, if it does not discount contract is
If pharmacies adhere to these rules do not, or about the customer's request, the prescribed date ever, but do not give the discount agreements included drug, they get no money from health insurance and thus remain sitting on their costs.
Is not that the discount agreement provided for drug available, it may be made, replacement with another same type drug only under certain conditions. The non-deliverable manufacturer has a pharmacy to supply shortage in writing. Only if such written confirmation to the recipe submitted each accompanied by, the pharmacy receives from the health insurance you Geld.Die new rules on the discount contracts will also affect patients of other funds: company health insurance, health insurance funds and the Federal Miners have also signed discount agreements for key ingredients, as well as from the 1st April should apply.
comment
The revisions in the even more controversial health reform, which will now enter into force should, according to its proponents, cut costs, but take little account of a quick and proper care of patients with drugs. The exclusive contract with some very small manufacturers supply problem is difficult to avoid because, as they should within the shortest Time to expand their capacities so that they can keep supplying the whole market. The expansion or even construction of new manufacturing facilities will cost much time and money. Other producers, often those with the largest market shares to be pushed through the discount contracts from the market, regardless of how much they will demand in future for their drugs. This does not necessarily mean more free market economy with freedom of choice for the customer or patient. Many patients are forced in the future of their best means by which they are doing fine, for them to transfer to a new unknown drug which can tolerate, perhaps worse, because although the same active ingredient, but contains other additives. We express regret
the future, not our intended inconvenience that will face many of you. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure you are served in the future with good drugs without long waiting times. But unfortunately this is becoming increasingly difficult by the legislature.
We are all therefore called upon to stand up against the path in the cheap medicine, where the welfare of the patients no longer counts a lot. Yet it is perhaps not too late!
Jens Christian Heuer
Sources:
AOK Bundesverband http://www.aok-gesundheitspartner.de/bundesverband/index.html
Financial Times Germany http://www.ftd.de/
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