Artikel
Changes in prescribing patterns after implementation of GMG (Gesetz zur Modernisierung der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung)
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Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 30. September 2004 |
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Gliederung
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Background and Aim
The costs of over the counter drugs (OTC) are not any longer reimbursed by the German statutory health insurance (GKV) as a consequence of the GMG. Aim of the study was to investigate in what way physicians are reflecting the new regulation of the GMG regarding the prescription of OTC drugs.
Material and Methods
Prescribing data of several company based health insurance companies (BKK) including 263196 patients who received at least one prescription in the first quarter of 2003 and at least one prescription in the first three month of 2004. Analyses were done in MS-ACCESS.
Results
The total number of patients in treatment with an antihistamines for systemic use (ATC R06) decreased from 15184 to 12291 patients. Only 3076 patients got an antihistamine in I/2003 and I/2004. Out of these patients, the doctor switched from a OTC-drug to a prescription drug in 17.5% (563 patients). Regarding the drugs used in benign prostatic hypertrophy (ATC G04C) the total number of patients decreased slightly (1958 vs. 1887) and 1071 patients had a prescription in both years. 8.94% of these patients changed from a OTC to a prescription drug. On the other hand the proportion of patients getting a prescription for a laxative dropped by 37.19% from 1.03% (2708) to 0.65% (1701) although the GMG did not affect the regulation of prescribing laxatives.
Conclusion
The new reimbursement regulation within the German health care system led to some objectionable „side effects". It also implicates a new situation for researchers using claims data as study base even for drugs which are only available on prescription.
Conflict of interest: none