AOK discount agreements in force since June 1, 2009
13.10.2009 16:45
Chronically ill people need to be switched to new medicines
On June 1st, the new drug discount agreements that the AOK system has concluded for 63 active ingredients come into force. From June 1st onwards, millions of chronically ill people in particular will have to be switched (again) to new medicines.
Pro Generics e. V. now fears that the change will have an even greater impact on patient adherence to therapy (compliance). Poor compliance is one of the biggest problems in drug supply. If patients do not take their medication according to their treatment plan, the need for care increases due to the worsening of the disease, the onset of secondary diseases and the use of services from other service sectors (e.g. hospital treatment). According to the Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations, additional spending of around 10 billion euros each year is due to compliance deficits.
The fact that discount agreements exacerbate existing compliance problems is confirmed by a survey published by the AOK Scientific Institute (WIdO) on May 6, 2009. According to this, only 75.6 percent of those surveyed said that the switch to discount medicines was unproblematic. Almost a quarter of those insured by AOK who have to take medication found the change in medication problematic. One in five AOK insured people was not sure whether they would even take a medicine that was covered by the discount regulation.
The WIdO survey proves that the active ingredient discount contracts meet with low acceptance among patients. The fact that the AOK itself also expects problems is shown by agreements that some health insurance companies have made with state pharmacy associations. These contracts provide for special remuneration for pharmacies that switch their patients to discount medicines.
“This promotes the implementation of the discount contracts, but does not solve the problems of the insured,” says Peter Schmidt, Managing Director of ProGenerika. He also points out that pharmacies are not always obliged to provide discount medicines.
“If pharmaceutical or medical problems arise, you can also use the tried-and-tested medication by providing a billing number created specifically for this purpose. Of course, the doctor can also help. In any case in which problems arise, he has the opportunity to exclude the supply of discount medicines. The AOK has also pointed this out again and again. So in all cases of conflict, ask your doctor or pharmacist,” Schmidt advises AOK insured people. “Discount agreements must not lead to a deterioration in the supply of medicines.”