Germany

On September 3, 2026, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced an increase in funding for human genetic diagnostic services reimbursed through the EBM catalog. The decision was adopted by the Evaluation Committee following the completion of its annual review of the volume of development in human genetic services.

On September 1, 2026, the Institute for Hospital Remuneration Systems (INeK) announced the start of the application process under §6(2) KHEntgG (New Examination and Treatment Methods, NUB) for 2027. The application deadline is October 31, 2026.

On August 14, 2026, the BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices) published the preliminary version of the 2027 OPS procedure coding classification. The OPS, together with the ICD-10-GM, forms the basis for the reimbursement systems in inpatient and outpatient care in Germany. The preliminary version introduces multiple content updates and new procedure codes.

On July 30, 2026, the Statutory Health Insurance Contribution Rate Stabilization Act (GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz) entered into force, introducing important changes to the assessment of new examination and treatment methods associated with NUB applications under §137h SGB V.

On June 19, 2026, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the determined funding priorities for healthcare research projects and clinical guidelines.

On July 10, 2026, the German Bundestag passed the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) Contribution Rate Stabilization Act (GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz). During the parliamentary process, additional fiscal measures were incorporated into the legislation after it was approved by the Federal Cabinet to close the funding gap that had widened in the interim.

On July 15, 2026, the German Federal Cabinet adopted the draft Health Data and Digital Innovation Act (GeDIG). The legislation aims to further integrate the benefits of digitalization into healthcare for both insured individuals and healthcare providers, while expanding opportunities to use health data for research, innovation, and care delivery.

On July 1, 2026, the revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog for the third quarter of 2026 came into force. The EBM catalog is used to reimburse day case and outpatient services under the fee-for-service model. The main changes introduced concern updates of the contents (service legends, preambles of several EBM subchapters) and the introduction of several new EBM codes.

On June 11, 2026, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced a number of changes to the reimbursement of human genetics tests to be introduced as of October 1, 2026. The package of changes includes, among other measures, a reduction in the reimbursement values for human genetic services and the introduction of additional volume-based reimbursement reductions at the practice level. These measures are intended to reduce expenditure on human genetic tests by 31%.

On June 9, 2026, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) announced that forty-five applications for innovation funding of healthcare research projects were accepted.

On June 12, 2026, the Bundestag held its first reading of the planned financial reform of the statutory health insurance system (GKV). The German Federal Government has proposed a comprehensive reform package to address the severe financial deficit in the GKV.

On May 22, 2026, the Innovation Committee of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decisions recommending the transfer of several other completed projects on new forms of care and healthcare research to standard care.