Objectives:

• The aim of IMPLEMENT is to develop, test and establish sustainable access to quality-assured oncological exercise therapy for cancer patients in Germany. In order for the program to be sustainable, it requires sufficient funding through health insurance. Considering currently available billing options for exercise therapy for cancer patients, we will develop a reimbursement model for billing oncological exercise therapy in routine care.

Background:

• Many randomized, controlled studies have shown positive effects of exercise therapy on disease- and therapy-related side effects as well as quality of life during and after oncological treatment. Despite the importance of structured exercise therapy to support cancer patients, comprehensive and easily accessible programs for oncology patients are not available throughout the German health care landscape.

Methods:

• We will establish an economic database, which assesses the resources required to deliver exercise therapy to cancer patients in routine care. This includes estimating and monetizing the therapist input and required equipment. Thereby, we will account for the range of the number of treatments required, treatment variations, the range of total numbers of patients requiring exercise therapy and variations depending on the severity of the cancer.

Impact:

• The project will provide valuable information regarding financing of exercise therapy for cancer patients and thus improve allocation decisions and increase sustainability of programs.

Further Information: https://www.krebshilfe.de/informieren/presse/pressemitteilungen/deutsche-krebshilfe-foerdert-ausbau-der-bewegungstherapie/

Contact: Dr. Kathrin Hegenberg