More and more apps promise help with physical or psychological problems. Many are paid for by health insurance companies. But according to the health insurance association, not all apps fulfill their promises.
According to health insurance companies, digital health applications (DiGA) such as smartphone apps often do little to help patients. “The results of the DiGA are characterized by disillusionment,” said Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis, board member of the umbrella association of statutory health insurance (GKV), in Berlin.
“Even in the third year after their introduction, the health apps are not keeping their promise of fundamentally improving health care.” There are too many applications that have not been able to demonstrate any benefit for patients despite being included in the health insurance provider’s catalog of services.
“DiGA could be a link between patients, the medical profession, between sectors and different disciplines,” says Stoff-Ahnis. In addition, manufacturer prices have risen significantly. “The money from those paying contributions should flow into better care and not finance economic development,” emphasizes the association board member.
Helping patients with specific problems
Digital health applications, for example, refer to apps that promise patients help with certain problems – such as “Cara Care for irritable bowel syndrome” or “elona therapy depression”.
According to the GKV, around 374,000 digital applications were used between September 2020 and September 2023. The statutory health insurance (GKV) paid 113 million euros for this. According to the GKV, only one in five digital applications was able to demonstrate a benefit in the three years.
Nevertheless, the manufacturing companies were able to set any high prices for the DiGA in the first year after inclusion in the GKV service catalogue. These must be reimbursed by statutory health insurance for this period, regardless of whether a benefit has been proven or not. According to the GKV, the starting prices in the first year of the study averaged 407 euros, and in the third year it was 593 euros.
The GKV Association therefore demanded that only DiGAs with proven medical benefits and real added value be included in the DiGA directory by the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices. In addition, appropriate prices that reflect patient benefit are required.
Source: Stern
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