Since April 2007, the government has made drastic changes to the laws governing the dispensing of generic drugs. The aim of this was to achieve further reductions in the cost of pharmaceuticals. So-called discount contracts and/or tenders are amongst the most important instruments of this regulation. Both can be brought about through negotiations between manufacturers and health-insurance companies.
When such contracts exist for certain medication, pharmacists are obliged only to dispense this contractually regulated medication. If there are a number of contractually regulated medications which are equal with regard to content and therefore, interchangeable, the pharmacist can make the selection alone, or with the involvement of the doctor or patient.
Dermapharm and its associated subsidiaries have numerous discount contracts with health-insurance companies.
For the entire reimbursable range from Dermapharm AG:
AOK:
AOK Baden-Württemberg* (since 01.04.2008)
AOK Bavaria* (since 01.06.2008)
AOK Berlin* (since 01.05.2008)
AOK Hesse* (since 01.07.2008)
AOK Mecklenburg-Vorpommern* (since 01.05.2008)
AOK Lower Saxony (since 01.05.2008)
AOK PLUS * (Saxony und Thuringia) (since 01.05.2008)
AOK Rheinland-Pfalz* (since 01.07.2008)
AOK Saxony-Anhalt* (since 01.05.2008)
AOK Schleswig-Holstein* (since 01.04.2008)
*Entire portfolio excluding the 22 active agents of the nationwide AOK discount contract
» for parts of the comprehensive range:
DAK for parts of the preparation programme of Dermapharm AG since 1.5.2008.
With the Hamburg-Münchener Krankenkasse (HMK)
and the Hanseatischen Krankenkasse (HEK) since 01.06.2008
AOK:
AOK nationally for the preparation Flucoderm (for 2008/2009)
www.aok.de
AOK Saarland** (since01.05.2008)
www.aok.de/saarland
** Selected prescription preparations.
Also excluding the 22 active agents of the nationwide AOK discount contract
BKK:
BKK Mobil Oil for various Dermapharm AG preparations.
Bahn BKK for part of the range of preparations with Dermapharm AG.
BKK Bundesverband:
BKK Ford & Rheinland (seit 01.01.2008)
BKK Gruner & Jahr (seit 01.05.2008)
Vaillant BKK (seit 01.07.2008)
GWQ ServicePlus AG (since 01.08.2008):
BKK Aesculap
BKK Die Bergische Krankenkasse
BKK Essanelle
BKK firmus
BKK Merck
Dräger & Hanse BKK
SBK
Salus BKK
Schwenninger BKK
Securvita BKK
LKK:
Since 1.6.2008 with the Bundesverband der Landwirtschaftlichen Krankenkassen (Association of Agricultural Health-Insurance Funds) for various Dermapharm AG preparations.
The following LKKs have signed up to the contract:
LKK Franconia und Oberbayern
LKK Central- und Eastern Germany
LKK Lower Bavaria/Upper Palatinate and Swabia
LKK Lower Saxony-Bremen
LKK North Rhine-Westphalia
LKK Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg
