Researcher from the Chair of Public Health and Prevention have published a new study on the effectiveness of the German Disease Management Programs (DMPs) for type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease on mortality in the journal BMC Public Health. In this study, the mortality of over 56-year-olds in Germany (~20% of this age group are in one of the two DMPs) before and after the introduction of DMPs in Germany (2002/2003) was compared with the mortality of over 56-year-olds in 14 European countries using synthetic control methods. The results show no positive effect of the DMPs on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. However, due to the uncertainty surrounding the effect estimates, we cannot rule out a positive effect. These results contrast with the results of previous studies which suggested that participation in DMPs is associated with reduced mortality. Due to their design, however, they did not allow any conclusions to be drawn about causality. Due to the substantial program costs of both programs (>€800 million per year), robust evidence for their benefit is needed. The evaluation of effectiveness should be part of the approval and review of existing and new DMPs (e.g. obesity)!