Studie zu den Auswirkungen eines Verbots der telemedizinischen Cannabis-Verschreibung und des Versandhandels auf die Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherungen
The study analyses the financial consequences of the planned ban on telemedical prescriptions and the mail-order sale of medical cannabis for the statutory health insurance system (SHI). The draft law assumes cost neutrality - However, our analysis shows that billions in savings are currently at stake for the SHI system and that access for patients would be made more difficult at the same time.
Methodological approach
The cost analysis follows a bottom-up approach: first, the actual market for medical cannabis is reconstructed using import statistics, prices and patient numbers. We then compare therapy and treatment costs with and without prohibition. To do this, we use web scraping of online pharmacy prices, our own pharmacy market study, SHI reimbursement rates (auxiliary tax) and medical billing figures (EBM).
The most important facts in brief
The planned changes jeopardise current SHI savings from the supply of medical cannabis totalling around 2.9 billion per year. These are made up as follows:
- 1.5 billion price effect, because with the discontinuation of the favourable mail order business, the SHI would have to pay an average of around € 21.16/g instead of around € 6.49/g online or € 14.08/g in local pharmacies.
- A cost shift of €1.3 billion would result because existing self-pay patients would switch completely to statutory health insurance for their cannabis therapy.
- 23 million in additional medical costs per year due to at least 650,000 additional consultations as a result of the obligation to see a doctor in person.
The study also points to non-monetised risks, such as a possible shift to the illegal market and additional burdens in the outpatient sector.
Conclusion
The study shows that savings for the SHI system of around €2.9 billion per year would be at stake if the draft bill is implemented. In addition to the quantified effects, the results point to non-monetarised risks for healthcare, such as possible market shifts or additional burdens in the outpatient sector. Overall, the analysis indicates that the draft calls into question key economic benefits of the MedCanG and could weaken the structural relief achieved to date.
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