actually Needs to have every second child in Germany braces? Per year, the statutory health insurance funds spend more than a billion euros for orthodontic treatments, although their Use “is only insufficiently explored,” had objected to the Federal court of audit in the spring of last year. And the Minister of health, Jens Spahn (CDU), was obliged to give a study in order.
Now the result is available – and leaves open the core question: For the often expensive treatments, there is no direct medical leave Benefit, for instance with a view to caries, periodontal disease or tooth loss are evidence, says the 144-page report by the Berlin-based IGES Institute. But there is evidence that such treatment of malocclusions and quality of life of patients improve.
For years, the expenditure increases steadily
You could make “no definitive assessment of whether and what long-term effects of the applied orthodontic therapy regimes on oral health”, the authors of the study, which is the daily mirror. Therefore, we could not assess whether the spending “did not satisfy the criteria of cost-effectiveness”. According to the opinion, the expenditure of the health insurance companies for jaw rising, orthopedic treatments since the year 2005. Finally, you were more than 1.1 billion euros per year.
“The Ministry of health is in no doubt as to the necessity of orthodontic services,” stated a Ministry spokesman on Thursday. That braces reduced the incidence of diseases could not be demonstrated, it is not excluded also. It is now necessary to discuss whether there is still a need for further research. To rate. the Benefit of a therapy but in the end, not the legislature, but the Federal Joint Committee of health insurance companies, Physicians and hospitals
to clarify a little data about the nature, duration and success of such treatments
Also in the interest of the patients”, what are the benefits lead to be made to Treatment“, as requested by the President of the court of auditors, Kay Scheller, in April of this year. In other areas of the statutory health insurance of the Benefits of a therapy must be confirmed scientifically. “This should also be in the case of orthodontic treatment the case.” In addition, Federal missed-wide data on the nature, duration and success of such treatments, as well as the underlying diagnosis.
The professional Association of German orthodontists rejected the media expressed accusation of a “rip-off with braces” vehemently and stressed that the toolbar with the treatments “a significant contribution to the dental health of the population”. The leading Association of the statutory funds, pointed to the thin of research. Clinical trials with correctly formed comparison groups were consuming, but “inevitable” for reliable results on the effectiveness of the treatment.
Even the SPD-health expert Karl Lauterbach called to verify the refund practice. The benefits of braces are not substantiated as well as many Doctors and parents think.
Vague cash default: The “measure of the Necessary” must not be exceeded
Complete the cost for orthodontic treatment of the funds only for Adolescents between ten and 18 years – and only be taken when the treatment is completed. However, first, to raise an equity share, which will later be refunded. The first child, he is 20 percent, the second child of ten percent of the cost. In addition, a treatment must be certified necessary, and the services shall not exceed, as it is called, “the measure of the Necessary”.
