OECD report confirms OptiMedis care model

06.06.2023 11:41

According to modeling by the international Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), if OptiMedis' integrated care model is expanded to cover the whole of Germany, more than 146,000 years of life could be gained from 2022 to 2050 and almost 100,000 years of life with limitations due to disabilities or illnesses could be avoided.

The OECD published a landmark report in May 2023 on international integrated care models that have the potential for cross-border transfer. One of these is the OptiMedis model, as implemented, for example, in Gesundes Kinzigtal or in Gesundes Werra-Meißner-Kreis. The title of the report is “Integrating Care to Prevent and Manage Chronic Diseases: Best Practices in Public Health.”

More years of life at significantly lower costs: OECD modeling shows enormous potential

The best practice examples were selected based on the criteria of effectiveness, efficiency, equity, quality of evidence and level of care and the long-term outcomes of cross-national transmission were modeled. It was shown that if OptiMedis' integrated care model was expanded to cover the whole of Germany in the period from 2022 to 2050, more than 146,000 years of life could be gained and almost 100,000 years of life with limitations due to disabilities or illnesses could be avoided. If the model were transferred to the population of the EU-27 countries, an average gain of 9.7 years of life and 6.5 years of healthy life per 100,000 people would be possible between 2022 and 2050.

In addition to the high effectiveness of the integrated care model, the OECD also emphasizes its efficiency: According to the calculations, the introduction of the OptiMedis model throughout Germany could lead to cumulative savings in health spending of around 3,500 euros per person by 2050. At the EU-27 country level, it is estimated that the annual savings in health expenditure relative to total health expenditure is on average 4 % and in Germany even 4.6 %. Applied to the current health expenditure of the statutory health insurance (GKV) of almost 300 billion euros in 2023, the savings correspond to around 14 billion euros.

Successfully combating health inequalities – promoting health kiosks

At the same time, the OECD report highlights the potential of the OptiMedis model to reduce health inequalities. Health centers and health kiosks are mentioned as crucial elements in enabling needs-oriented and low-threshold access to care services. Since complex health needs are more pronounced among vulnerable groups, the integrated care model can bring particularly great benefit to these groups. The OECD therefore recommends expanding health kiosks in appropriate regions and promoting health skills among disadvantaged groups to further promote healthcare uptake and enrollment rates.

Earlier access for patients – decision-makers are in demand

To further improve the performance of the OptiMedis model and similar models, even more measures could be taken to better reach patients at high risk for complex healthcare needs. Patients should have earlier access to prevention programs so that better health outcomes can be achieved while costs can be reduced at the same time.

The full OECD report is available here: Integrating Care to Prevent and Manage Chronic Diseases: Best Practices in Public Health