[§ 116b SGB V (social insurance code, book five) for rheumatology patients. An empirical assessment on the basis of administrative data].

Background: The choice between outpatient and inpatient care is currently undergoing major changes within the German health care system with the amendment of § 116b SGB V. This study investigates what proportion of hitherto inpatient rheumatologic care could potentially be given on an outpatient basis.

Methods: The analysis is based on administrative inpatient data from 2004 to 2008 covering approximately 23.