With four more Digital Therapeutics (DTx) added in January, Germany is a leader in reimbursing of prescribed digital health applications. The DiGA directory lists now 42 digital therapeutics available to be prescribed and reimbursed for German patients.
It has been almost two years since we have been discussing the approval of Deprexis, the 11th DiGA-approved digital therapeutics. The pace of the German regulator, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) increased dramatically.
BfArM has so far received 165 applications. By the 22nd of February 2023, there were 43 positive decisions. Sixteen DTx are DiGA-approved permanently, 27 are approved provisionally (gathering additional RWE), and five were removed from the directory (two of them on developer request).
How to get a digital health application (DiGA) in Germany?
- Arrange a doctor’s appointment
It is best to let your doctor advise you on your desired DiGA DTx.
- Get a prescription
You get a red prescription. If you do not receive one, the health insurance company can also pay for the DiGA without a prescription.
- Submit
Submit the prescription to your health insurance company (Krankenkasse). This can be done online. If in doubt, contact customer service.
- Receive code
Your cash register will send you an activation code for three months (90 days) of DiGA usage. After that, you will need to submit a prescription again.
- Download the app
Download the app to your mobile phone. Every DiGA is available in the google play store or app store. Some can also be used via browser.
- Enter code
Where exactly you have to enter the code in the app depends on the DiGA. However, the application should query for the code itself.