Gesundheitswesen. 1998 Aug-Sep; 60(8-9): 467-72.

[Change in legal assessment of unconventional medical methods in federal health insurance--consequences for social medicine expert assessment]

N�chtern E.

Court decisions concerning liability of the statutory health insurance to pay for alternative medicine are subject to evolution in the course of time. Judicial interpretation of the law determines the standard to be applied in future. Thus the expert assessment by the Medical advisory board of health insurance (Medizinischer Dienst der Krankenversicherung, MDK) in this context must consider the current tendency of court decisions. This survey describes the development of court criteria for claims to refund alternative medicine costs and draws some conclusions in respect of the assessment by the MDK.