Abstracts by keywords: Innovations
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), defined as blood loss ≥500 ml within 24 hours of birth, is one of the most common causes of maternal mortality worldwide. In Germany, PPH occurred in 7.8% of the 693,000 births in 2023. In addition to medical therapy and uterine (balloon) tamponade, a vacuum-induced uterine compression (VUC) procedure has been available since 2024, enabling rapid hemostasis. Innovations such as VUC and the associated costs are initially not reflected in the DRG flat-rate fees in the inpatient sector, which is why additional fees are necessary for refinancing. At the same time, the product costs can be offset by resource-saving effects (including shorter lengths of stay, reduction in surgical procedures). To demonstrate these effects and evaluate them in monetary terms, a model was conducted: A resource saving in the DRG system leads to a downgrade of the DRG. Thus, a one-level reduction in the most common DRG results in a cost reduction of €983.24. The recent establishment of a specific procedure code for VUT will enable real-world analyses based on billing data in the future, as well as the long-term adjustment of case rates.
04.08.2025
Medicines are among the most effective therapeutic measures used in the German healthcare system. However, the therapeutic progress that has been achieved in this area is also associated with considerable costs. The challenge for the healthcare system is to allow all patients to participate in this effective measure and in the progress that has been achieved, despite limited financial resources. The pharmaceutical expenditure of the statutory health insurance (GKV) has been rising continuously for years. This increase is only interrupted by legal regulations such as a price moratorium or manufacturer discounts, which usually have a short-term but not lasting effect and are also usually compensated by above-average increases in expenditure after the measures have expired. An expert report commissioned by TK by Prof. Stargard, University of Hamburg, Chair of Health Care Management shows that the end of the price moratorium and the reduction of the manufacturer discount, which has meanwhile increased, will result in additional expenditure of up to 1.4 billion euros for the health insurance companies would have drawn. The increase in drug spending is mainly caused by new drugs.
24.01.2013
For many observers, our healthcare system is characterized by standstill. Good ideas would not be implemented, citizens and patients would be denied progress, and two-tier medicine would possibly be promoted. This is often attributed to over-regulation, bureaucratic obstacles and mutual blockade by interest groups. On the other hand, there are also those who point out that the range of services on offer is constantly growing, that this growth is not adequately controlled, and that this is essentially a result of uptake induced by the providers. Representatives of this position therefore prefer to discuss the aspect of limiting growth instead of the question of a backlog of innovation according to the motto: “How much more growth should we afford?” These “minus” and “plus” perspectives on the development of the Health care systems usually come face to face suddenly. However, it is noticeable that the position taken is often influenced by the role of the viewer in this system. Representatives of the minus or standstill thesis are primarily assigned to service providers or the healthcare industry, while representatives of the plus or growth thesis are usually assigned to payers and public health-oriented science. What is interesting is that both camps agree that the healthcare system functions irrationally and inefficiently, that it is risky and even sometimes hostile to patients.