OBJECTIVES: To map the health care utilization of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients incl. MS-specific drug therapy in the ambulatory setting of the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) system in Bavaria/Germany. METHODS: Pseudonymised administrative claims data of the SHI-accredited physicians in Bavaria/Germany (April 2005 – December 2009) were used. Patients with at least one MS diagnosis (ICD-10 G35) documented by a neurologist or psychiatrist or at least one disease modifying drug (DMD) prescription (interferon beta-1(a/b), glatirameracetat, or natalizumab). All cases of outpatient medical services with an MS diagnosis were considered. Analysis of MS-associated drug therapy included DMD, drugs used for symptomatic relief and systemic corticosteroids for relapse therapy. Persistence (duration of continuous prescription) and medication possession ratio (MPR; percentage of days covered by medication) were calculated for DMD. RESULTS: The annual number of MS patients ranged from n=12.800 (2005) to n=18.200 (2009). The proportion of patients with at least one DMD prescription (interferon beta, glatirameracetat, natalizumab, azathioprin) increased from 46% (2005) to 51% (2009). The average persistence for these drugs (excl. natalizumab) varied between 12 months (glatirameracetat) and 14 months (interferons). The median MPR varied between 0,69 (natalizumab) and 0,84 (interferon beta 1-a) in the first year following the index prescription. Mostly, these drugs were prescribed by neurologists. In total, 10,060 patients receiving systemic corticosteroids for the therapy of relapse were identified between 2005 and 2009. The average number of such therapies per year and patient was about 1.5. The percentage of patients with relevant MRI scans (neurocranium / spinal cord) was substantial higher in patients with relapse therapies compared with patients without such therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis indicated (1) an increase of disease prevalence but also of patients supplied with DMD between 2005 and 2009 and (2) the importance of neurologists within the MS treatment.