Three more health apps received reimbursement in Germany

In late December 2020, three more reimbursable health apps in the fields of management of fatigue, migraine and depression were 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.

Now besides Kalmeda, Velibra, Somnio, Vivira, Zanadio, and Invirto, introduced between October 2020 and December 2020, three more health apps are available at the DiGA Directory.

Elevida is a web-application for people aged at least 18 years old with multiple sclerosis who suffer from fatigue. Elevida aims to reduce fatigue. The app is intended to be used in addition to any other usual treatment (for example, by a general practitioner or specialist). Elevida is based on established psychotherapeutic approaches and procedures, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The app is available in English and German.

M-sense Migraine offers a comprehensive digital treatment program for migraine patients. The application includes a digital headache diary and guideline-compliant procedures for migraine prophylaxis and acute treatment of attacks. Migraine patients can access customized knowledge transfer, animated physiotherapy exercises, instructions for endurance sports and audio files for relaxation, and imagination exercises. The documentation of lifestyle factors in the diary enables individual trigger management. The app is available only in German.

Selfapy health app offers people with depression an individual online course based on evidence-based theories and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. The therapeutic content can be processed independently by the person concerned via the internet-based course. The content is conveyed with audio and video clips, texts, and exercises and individually adapted to the personal situation of the person concerned. For safety reasons, the patient is continuously monitored by a personal psychologist during the course. In urgent cases, the psychologist is available to answer questions about the application via a message function.

The statutory health insurance will fully cover the price of the apps (€743.75 for Elevida, €219.99 for M-sense Migraine, and €540 for Selfapy).

The full details in German can be found here.

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