G-BA is examining additional early detection tests for children between 9 and 10 years old
23.08.2023 14:41
Regular early detection examinations for newborns, children and adolescents are an integral part of the range of services provided by statutory health insurance. The first child examination is immediately after birth (U1), and the last one is before the child's 5th birthday (U9). The J1 youth examination takes place between the ages of 13 and 14. In order to close the time gap between child and youth examinations, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) is now considering introducing an additional U10 for children between 9 and 10 years of age.
He is following the request of the patient representatives in the G-BA. While the U-examinations have a high participation rate of almost 100 percent, less than half of young people currently take the J1. This is to be improved, among other things, by including the youth health examination in the yellow booklet.
In addition, Dr. Monika Lelgemann, impartial member of the G-BA and chairwoman of the method evaluation subcommittee: “With the acceptance of the patient representative’s application, we are beginning to discuss the content of the new U10 for children between 9 and 10 years old. We have to determine what health goals this U10 should have and what specific medical examinations and advice topics will result from this. The focus is expected to be overweight and obesity, physical activity and media consumption as well as psychological development. In view of the currently low vaccination rate against human papilloma viruses - for both girls and boys - we are also considering providing targeted advice to parents for the U10.”
Lelgemann continues: “As the unfortunately poor participation rates in the J1 show, medical early detection offers are not sufficient to reach older children, young people and their parents. Our mission as G-BA is to define the best possible, evidence-based offer for statutory health insurance. This should be supplemented, for example, by advice and assistance from local authorities, such as the public health service.”
Process of the consultations
At the beginning of October, the G-BA will publish the new advisory topic in the Federal Gazette and on its website. Regardless of a legally anchored right to comment, all experts are given the opportunity to comment on the consultation topic on the basis of a questionnaire and to provide an initial assessment. The G-BA then commissions the research and evaluation of the current study situation. Written and oral statements from associations and scientific societies will be obtained on the draft resolution developed on this basis.
Background: early detection examinations for children
In the Children's policy The G-BA specifies the details of early detection examinations for newborns, babies and children. The aim of the so-called U-examinations is to detect any developmental disorders and illnesses at an early stage and to be able to treat them in a timely manner. The doctors document their findings in the examination booklet for children, the so-called yellow booklet. For the early detection of diseases in young people, there is the so-called “Youth Health Examination“. It takes place between the ages of 13 and 14.