Reimbursement for high-priced innovative medical devices in a DRG-based hospital care system: the German situation.

The implementation of high-priced innovative medical technologies in a diagnosis-related group-type hospital-care reimbursement system is a challenge. If the extra costs are not reimbursed, there will be no financial incentive for a hospital to use a new technology, except for marketing reasons and research projects. A continuous in-time adaptation of the catalog of reimbursed items is necessary.