Germany

Between late April and May 2023, 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, 47 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

On April 5, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) announced the selection of thirteen applications for Innovation Funding for the development or further development of the clinical guidelines. A total of 31 applications were received in response to the funding announcement of June 27, 2022, and thirteen of them were accepted.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on April 1, 2023. The most significant changes concern introducing the new EBM codes for follow-up and evaluation of the “Invirto” health app, high-frequency endometrium ablation, and reducing the tariff for COVID-19 PCR tests.

In March 2023, two 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 sickness funds.

On March 2, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the determined funding priorities for new forms of care. A total of six prioritized topics are defined. The preparation of a complete application can be supported for a period of up to six months with a grant of up to a maximum of €75,000. The deadline for submitting ideas is May 16, 2023.

On February 23, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decisions, recommending the transfer to standard care for another three completed projects. The projects relate to preventing the family risk of colorectal carcinoma, shared decision-making in the hospitals, and digitally supported drug therapy management.

In January and February 2023, five 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 sickness funds.

On January 25, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decisions, recommending the transfer to standard care for another two completed projects. The projects relate to the improvement of the management of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) patients and the aftercare of pediatric patients suffering from chronic pain.

On January 30, 2023, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) published the list of the requests for innovation funding (NUB) that were submitted by the hospitals in 2022. The medical technologies belonging to the cardiovascular, eHealth, gastrointestinal, neuromodulation, neurovascular, peripheral vascular, orthopedic, and other technology groups obtained positive status 1.

On January 3, 2023, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) initiated the evaluation procedure concerning the method of renal denervation using ultrasound ablation in treatment-resistant hypertension (Paradise-System™ by ReCor Medical) within the framework of the early benefit assessment (in line with § 137h SGB V).

The updated German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM) catalog came into force on January 1, 2023. The EBM catalog (Einheitlicher Bewertungsmaßstab) regulates the reimbursement of services in the public outpatient sector in Germany and is updated once a quarter (four times a year). Among other changes, a new code for "zanadio" health app for follow-up and evaluation was introduced in the catalog.

On December 26, 2022, 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 sickness funds.