Germany expands reference price system

The Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) on Tuesday decided to extend Germany's reference price system to statins, proton pump inhibitors and oral triptans. The G-BA is a joint federal committee consisting of members from the statutory health insurance companies and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.

The reference price system groups drugs from the same compound class -- those that have similar mechanisms, or those that are considered interchangeable. Another committee then can set a price limit for reimbursement for all drugs in the group, based on the lowest price as a reference price. ...