Funding of digital medicine and care is only partially successful with new digital law

The regulations contained in DigiG create new barriers for DiGA

On July 13, 2023, the draft bill for the Digital Act (DigiG) was published by the Federal Ministry of Health. This will be decisive for the future development of digital healthcare in Germany. In addition to central projects for e-prescription, TI and interoperability, it includes new regulations for telemedicine and DiGA. In some cases, these set the course for digitally supported care. But several regulations create new challenges instead of promoting digital approaches.

The abolition of the 30 percent limit for telemedicine provided for in DigiG is an important step because it ends the disadvantage compared to local care and recognizes telemedicine as a quality medical service. In addition to the video consultation, however, all telemedicine models should be included. The planned interfaces should also be openly available to all telemedicine providers. In addition, the advertising ban in § 9 HWG still prevents any information about telemedicine — this discrimination must be abolished in the future.

New regulations for DiGA make integration into care difficult

The regulations contained in DigiG create new barriers for DiGA instead of promoting its anchoring in care: Among other things, a 14-day “trial period” is provided for patients, which, however, at the same time waives the claim for remuneration for manufacturers. This takes into account neither the onset of effects proven in studies nor the various reasons for a possible discontinuation of use. It also results in an unprecedented lack of compensation for a service provided in the healthcare system. The introduction of a mandatory survey of “user success” as a variable remuneration component is immature and promotes social media mechanisms that reward pure app openings instead of medical effects. And the planned mandatory loan of hardware from DIGA manufacturers leads to new administrative expenses and quality management obligations. In addition, it does not take into account hygienic aspects.

“The Digital Act creates impracticable hurdles for DiGA without a scientific basis,” says Dr. Anne Sophie Geier, managing director of the National Association of Digital Health Care e.V. (SVDGV). “What we need instead is a patient-centred prescription process, more education and greater flexibility in involving care providers. ”

The area of digital care includes further developments in interoperability, but further solutions are missing. This requires new impulses, such as a digital extension of nursing assessment, new telephone care services and the digital processing of nursing administrative tasks.

“Digital approaches can enormously improve the medicine and care of the future,” says Dr. Anne Sophie Geier. “However, this is only possible if the appropriate framework conditions are now created — this is only partially achieved with DigiG. ”

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