Austria Addresses Barriers to Digital Therapeutics Reimbursement
Vienna, Thursday, 13 March 2025.
Austria’s new study reveals critical reimbursement challenges and potential for digital therapeutics, focusing on market access and health economic impacts to drive healthcare innovation.
Current Landscape and Expert Insights
A groundbreaking study conducted through seven semi-structured interviews with Austrian healthcare stakeholders has identified key factors crucial for establishing a viable national reimbursement framework for digital therapeutics (DTx) [1]. This research comes at a pivotal time, as evidenced by recent developments in neighboring Germany, where seven new health apps gained reimbursement status between late February 2024 and early March 2025, bringing their total approved digital therapeutics to 59 in the DiGA Directory [3].
Critical Implementation Factors
The Austrian study highlights several essential components for successful DTx implementation, including user and prescriber acceptance, robust clinical evidence documentation, and data security measures that align with European standards [1]. These findings align with broader European healthcare technology assessment trends, as discussed at the World Evidence, Pricing and Access Congress in Amsterdam on March 5-6, 2025, where experts emphasized the strategic role of AI in enhancing Real-World Evidence (RWE) for healthcare solutions [2].
Economic Considerations and Future Outlook
The evolving landscape of digital therapeutics reimbursement intersects with broader healthcare economic trends. Recent developments in AI-assisted healthcare monitoring have demonstrated significant cost-saving potential through reduced hospital stays and fewer readmissions [3]. This economic perspective is particularly relevant as Austria works to establish its reimbursement framework, requiring clear economic evaluation protocols alongside clinical effectiveness measures [1].