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German Payer GKV-SV Concerned Over Added Value of Health Apps

Country: GERMANY | Region: EUROPE | Type: Pricing & Reimbursement | Keywords: #amnog #bfarm #digitalsupplyact #gkvsv #gsv #healthapps #hta #regulation


PRICENTRIC BRIEF:
  • While Germany’s umbrella payer, GKV-Spitzenverband (GKV-SV) sees great potential in funding digital health applications, legal funding regulations are a “major problem,” said GKV-SV Board Member, Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis
  • Security, function, quality, data protection and data security of the apps will undergo tests by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), and once apps are added to the directory, they will be freely priced for one year in Germany under AMNOG
  • Stoff Ahnis explained, “It is crucial that a digital application that the health insurance pays for has real medical added value for the patient,” adding “…I see the great danger that the contributor’s wallet will have to pay more for a year than a new app is actually worth”

THE DETAILS

BERLIN, Germany – While Germany’s umbrella payer, GKV-Spitzenverband (GKV-SV) sees great potential in funding digital health applications, legal funding regulations are a “major problem,” said GKV-SV Board Member, Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis.

Stoff Ahnis explained, “It is crucial that a digital application that the health insurance pays for has real medical added value for the patient. What the solidarity community finances must have hand and foot. This is how we protect users from disguised lifestyle apps.”

Under the Digital Supply Act (DVG), Germany implemented legislature approving reimbursement through GKV-SV for health apps, including diaries for diabetics and apps for people with high blood pressure.

Security, function, quality, data protection and data security of the apps will undergo tests by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).

“As soon as the federal institute has added a new digital health application to the directory, the health insurance companies have to pay any price that the manufacturer has come up with for a year.”

As with drug pricing under AMNOG, during this process apps will be freely priced for one year in Germany.

“The result of the price negotiations that the manufacturer will conduct with the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds only apply after a year. Here I see the great danger that the contributor’s wallet will have to pay more for a year than a new app is actually worth,” said Stoff-Ahnis.

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