Germany’s Remedy Costs Surge Past 15 Billion Euros as Therapists and Insurers Clash Over Blank Prescriptions
16.06.2026 - 11:04:15 | boerse-global.de
A sharp increase in spending on therapeutic treatments is driving a wedge between medical professionals and health insurers. According to the AOK-Heilmittelreport 2026, Germany’s statutory health insurers spent roughly 13.3 billion euros on Heilmittel (therapeutic remedies) in 2024. For 2025, experts forecast that figure will climb to around 15 billion euros – a jump of nearly 13 percent in a single year.
The cost explosion is fuelling a heated debate over the so-called Blankoverordnung (blank prescription), a relatively new tool that gives therapists more freedom to determine treatment frequency and duration. While practitioners welcome the flexibility, insurers warn that the expanded scope is pushing up expenses without clear evidence of better outcomes. The numbers highlight the gap: a standard regulated prescription costs 214 euros on average, whereas a blank prescription in ergotherapy (occupational therapy) and physiotherapy averages 714 euros – more than three times as much.
Against this financial backdrop, the German Association of Ergotherapy (DVE) kicked off its biennial congress in Bielefeld under the motto “Betätigung zählt” (Activity Counts). Around 2,200 specialist visitors are attending the event, which the DVE – an organisation with nearly 15,000 members – is using to set a new strategic course. A major leadership change took place: Andreas Pfeiffer stepped down as chair of the association.
The congress also honoured outstanding work. The innovation prize went to the “CurriculumKit” project, developed by Nicole Kaldewei, Helen Strebel, Nadine Scholz-Schwärzler and Katja Rottmann, who created a new curriculum concept for ergotherapy training. A keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Karim Fereidooni addressed the role of intersectionality in healthcare. An accompanying trade fair with more than 70 exhibitors is showcasing the latest products and services for therapeutic practice.
At the AOK event, Helmut Schröder of the Scientific Institute of the AOK and Dr. Carola Reimann of the AOK Federal Association urged a responsible use of the new freedoms. They stressed that the markedly longer treatment durations and higher frequencies seen with blank prescriptions were a cause for concern.
Earlier in June, the sector demonstrated its innovative side. On 11 June, the Lilly Deutschland Stiftung awarded the KONKRET-Preis in Frankfurt. Winners included the “Between The Lines” app for psychosocial support, the AI assistant “Tooliip” for Parkinson’s patients, the “Haus Atemzeit” project for families with ventilated children, and “Zeit ist Fuß 2.0” – an initiative focusing on foot health.
Prevention is also moving up the agenda. On 13 June, roughly 15,000 people across Bavaria took part in “Wir bewegen Bayern” (We Move Bavaria), an action day organised by the Bavarian Centre for Cancer Research at five locations. The core message: regular physical activity can help prevent cancer.
Looking ahead, the “therapie MÜNCHEN” trade fair on 19 and 20 June will feature new training systems such as JOKOKO, as well as assistive devices that combine cognitive and physical exercises – developed specifically for ergo- and physiotherapy practices.
