Germany

In May-July 2022, 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 health insurers.

On June 27, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the determined funding priorities for healthcare research projects (seven topics) and clinical guidelines (four topics).

On June 24, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decisions, recommending the transfer to standard care for two completed projects. The projects relate to preventing delirium, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and back pain therapy using e-health.

On June 23, 2022, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced the first steps aimed to expand the utilization of surgical procedures within day case/outpatient settings (reimbursed via the German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM) catalog).

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on July 1, 2022. The most significant changes concern introducing and updating multiple EBM codes for IVD tests and adjusting tariffs and content of radiotherapy services.

On June 7, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the overview of the 32 innovative healthcare research projects that will be funded, including those belonging to the eHealth technology group.

On June 7, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the overview of the 32 innovative healthcare research projects that will be funded. The projects concerning the technologies belonging to eHealth, obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonary and airways, orthopedics, and other technology groups received funding.

On May 13, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decisions, in which they recommended the transfer to standard care for three completed projects. The projects relate to healthcare coordination, polypharmacy, and neonatal screening.

On May 20, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) reported that 114 project ideas were received for Innovation Funding of the new forms of care.

On April 19, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has informed of the favorable results of the scientific evaluation of the G-BA Innovation Fund performed by the economic research center Prognos AG.

On April 4, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decisions, which recommended the transfer to standard care for two completed projects. The projects relate to the management of rare diseases and the strengthening of the regional healthcare structures and processes.

In March and April 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 health insurers. In total, thirty-three health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory.