[Demands on the evaluation of complex healthcare programs--disease management in Germany].

Disease management programs (DMP) are a new method of healthcare in Germany. Their implementation is legally secured and binding. Besides the requirements of a comprehensive documentation and the obligation to provide guideline-oriented healthcare, the statutory health insurances are also obliged to carry out a DMP evaluation. For this evaluation, a scientific advisory council of the Federal Insurance Office has submitted specific relevant criteria. The present contribution considers these criteria and relates them to the evaluation standards of the Evaluation Research Society. Additionally, some specific conditions for the undertaking of DMP and their evaluation in Germany are taken into consideration. The article ends with a suggestion for a comprehensive and methodologically accurate discussion.