G-BA updates its requirements for the DMP for COPD

25.08.2022 12:58

The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has updated its requirements for the Disease Management Program (DMP) for COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Currently, around 830,000 people with statutory health insurance are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive structured treatment within the DMP. The diagnostics and therapy provided for in the DMP have now been adapted to the latest medical knowledge by the G-BA as part of regular reviews. The scientific basis for this was an evaluation of the medical guidelines by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.

The following changes were decided, among others:

• The recommendations on the medications to be prescribed as a priority have been updated. The aim is to improve symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough and to avoid sudden deteriorations (exacerbations). Since the response to medication varies from person to person and over time, the need for medical monitoring and control is once again emphasized. The therapy should be able to be reduced or intensified promptly if necessary.
• If long-term oxygen therapy is necessary, it is now stipulated that this must be carried out for at least 15 hours per day.
• Among the surgical treatment options, lung volume reduction should also be considered for severe pulmonary emphysema and a lung transplant can be considered as a last resort for very severe COPD.
• Due to the particular relevance for the course of COPD, the patient should be informed not only about the special risks of active smoking, but also of passive smoking and the consumption of e-cigarettes. In addition to the current offers for smokers who are ready to quit, there will also be the option of prescribing one-off medication for smoking cessation as soon as the G-BA has defined the requirements and details in its own guidelines.

When will the updates be implemented in practice?

The updated DMP requirements will be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health for legal review. If there are no objections, they come into force - including the adjusted documentation requirements - on the first day of the quarter following publication in the Federal Gazette. Within one year of the decision coming into force, the existing DMP contracts between health insurance companies, doctors' practices and hospitals must be adapted to the new requirements.