title: [Rationale and dissemination of "GP centered health care" ("HzV") in Germany].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the face of demographic changes, the aging of the population, and the increase in chronic morbidity and complexity, efficient primary care is needed to ensure comprehensive and high-quality health care. The general practitioner (GP) can only cope with this task, if certain preconditions are met.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To strengthen primary health care, the German legislator added § 73b, "GP-centered health care" ("Hausarztzentrierte Versorgung", HzV) to the Social Code Book V. This article seeks to illustrate the rationale and general set-up of the HzV and to report on its dissemination. We discuss whether or not the HzV can promote the preconditions required.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search, querying participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several elements of the HzV, such as lump-sum reimbursement, obligatory participation in structured quality circles, continuing education, and the qualification of non-medical health care assistants help to promote an environment that enables GPs to fulfill their new role. Considering all assured people and the Federal Republic as a whole, the distribution of the HzV is poor. However, a growing number of contracts (currently: 79) and participants (currently > 3.6 million) is expected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The establishment of efficient primary care is heavily promoted by the HzV. In future, ways must be found to overcome the inflexible borders between sectors and to integrate community-based health care, which truly focuses on the patients needs. The HzV can be seen as a starting point.
authors: Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Deutschland, Luebeck@allgemeinmedizin.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Lübeck
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Beyer
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Gerlach
mesh_terms: D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005858:Germany; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*