IKK Südwest Chroniker do not pay any practice fees

Chronicians pay no practice fee in 2012: IKK Südwest recommends that chronically ill insured persons participate in disease management programs

12/14/2011

Chronically ill IKK members enrolled in a Disease Management Program (DMP) will not be required to pay a medical fee for medical treatment in the coming year. The IKK Südwest retains this benefit for chroniclers in 2012 as well, although the health insurance companies will have less money available for DMP insured persons in the coming year. Many competitors have removed the exemption for their members.

„Our experience shows that DMP work very effectively and are an important pillar in the fight against civilization diseases such as diabetes or asthma“, says Frank Spaniol, board member of IKK Südwest. „That's why we create incentives. We would like to encourage as many of our chronically ill insured as possible to register for a corresponding program of the IKK Südwest.“

DMP are systematic treatment programs that support the medical care and improve the medical care for the chronically ill. They are used in asthma, breast cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes I and II or coronary heart disease.

Another advantage in addition to the abolition of the practice fee is that the patients actively shape their therapy concept and are accompanied on the long term by experts on their path to disease.

Home and specialist doctors as well as hospitals and rehabilitation facilities work hand in hand in this way, thus ensuring coordinated care. „The most important goal of DMP is to increase the quality of life of the insured“, emphasizes Frank Spaniol. In order to enable as many insured as possible to participate in these treatment programs, IKK Südwest analyzes so-called candidate groups at regular intervals and contacts their insured persons eligible for DMP. (Pm)