Germany

The application portal for inclusion in the Health App Directory at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) in Germany has been online since May 27, 2020. The first reimbursable health apps were introduced on the Directory in early October 2020. As of May 27, 2021, a total of 74 applications were received, 51 of which for provisional listing and 23 for final listing. Fifteen applications (20%) were introduced on the Directory.

On May 6, 2021, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) announced the start of consultations about the design of three co-funded studies for cardiovascular methods in accordance with §137e SGB V.

The Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has launched the decisions database on its website.

In late April and early May 2021, three more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, fifteen health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on April 1, 2021. Two new EBM codes for IVD tests were introduced, and reimbursement conditions for two IVD tests were amended.

According to the available financial results, published by the German Federal Ministry of Health, the German statutory health insurance companies reported a total deficit of around 2.65 billion euros in 2020. The health fund reported a deficit of 3.49 billion euros in 2020. As of January 15, 2021, the health fund's liquidity reserve was around 5.9 billion euros.

On March 17, 2021, the Evaluation Committee (Bewertungsausschuss) has decided to introduce two new EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) codes related to prescription of health apps with retrospective effect from January 1, 2021.

On March 17, 2021, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the determined funding priorities. Applicants are invited to submit ideas for projects that fall within one of these funding priorities. The deadline for submitting ideas is June 1, 2021.

On January 28, 2021, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the first overview of the 28 innovative projects on new forms of medical care that will be funded. The projects concerning the technologies belonging to the cardiovascular, eHealth, orthopedic, neurology, nephrology, and other technology groups received funding.

On January 29, 2021, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has published the List of the requests for innovation funding (NUB) that were submitted by the hospitals in 2020. The medical technologies belonging to the cardiovascular, ENT, eHealth, gastrointestinal, neuromodulation, neurovascular, orthopedic, and other technology groups obtained positive status 1.

In early January 2021, the new reimbursable health app was introduced on the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). These applications can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on January 1, 2021. The most significant changes include the increase of the reimbursement base rate and the introduction of many new surcharge fees in the area of radiotherapy services.