The Bundestag passed the GKV-BStabG on 10 July 2026, fixing the manufacturer rebate at 15.5% from 1 January 2027 with no phase-in. Here’s what changed between the draft and the final law, and what to do before budgets lock.
Germany’s GKV-BStabG (Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz) cleared the Bundestag 319 to 286 on 10 July 2026, and the Bundesrat the same afternoon. The core pharma provisions take effect on 1 January 2027, with a handful of measures, including the removal of AMNOG price guardrails and the abolition of the combination discount, live from the day after promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette.
The final law replaces the draft’s open-ended dynamic rebate formula with a fixed rate. The manufacturer rebate rises from 7% to 15.5%, applied in full from day one, with no transitional period and no fixed expiry date.
What changed between the April draft and the final law
The manufacturer rebate was the most contested provision, and it changed the most. The April draft proposed a dynamic, formula-driven rebate that industry modelled at close to 20% by 2030. The Health Committee struck that formula and replaced it with a flat additional 8.5 percentage points on top of the existing 7% base, taking the total to 15.5% from 1 January 2027.
Two other provisions were tightened in committee: the volume-based fallback (scale factor up 50%) and the vaccine category rebate (raised from 7% to 9%, a stacked total of around 16%, plus a price freeze to 2030). The selective tendering pilot for patented drugs in five therapeutic classes and the combination discount abolition passed largely as drafted, as did the price moratorium extension to 31 December 2030.
Read the full analysis
Our full whitepaper covers all seven provisions as adopted against the April draft, the two positive changes for industry, portfolio-level guidance by company type and product type, the European price corridor implications for internationally referenced products, and a scenario-by-scenario action plan with dates through 2027.
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This blog is prepared by Access Infinity for informational purposes. All provisions described reflect the GKV-BStabG as passed on 10 July 2026 and stakeholder analysis current as of 23 July 2026. The Federal Law Gazette publication was pending at time of writing. This content does not constitute legal or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The rebate rises from 7% to 15.5% of the ex-VAT list price, effective 1 January 2027. This replaces the dynamic formula proposed in the April draft.
The 15.5% rebate and the vaccine measures apply from 1 January 2027. The removal of AMNOG price guardrails, the tendering pilot and the combination discount abolition take effect the day after the law is published in the Federal Law Gazette.
No. Unlike the April draft, which proposed a phased start at 10.5% for the first half of 2027, the final law applies the full 15.5% from day one, with no ramp-up period.
Biosimilars and their reference biologics are exempt. New active substances launching from 2027 can also qualify for a location-clause exemption if at least 5% of clinical trial participants are enrolled at German sites; this runs for three years and is renewable. Beyond the formal exemptions, the law leaves one further route open, known as supersession. It is not an exemption, but it can remove the additional 8.5 points where the reimbursement price is agreed on the right terms.
About the authors:
Brett Gardiner
Brett is a Senior Partner at Access Infinity and brings a unique combination of clinical and academic expertise in immunology and genetics to his role in pricing and market access. He possesses a proven track record of success, managing and contributing to the development of pricing and reimbursement strategies for over 200 biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical devices across all product life cycle stages.
Emily Hall
Emily is a Associate Director at Access Infinity. Her consulting experience focusses on pricing and access strategy across diverse disease areas and global markets. She has led multiple projects involving extensive secondary, primary and quantitative research to support clients determine pricing and access potential, clinical trial design and launch sequencing for early and late-stage assets.
