Proposes Implementation of Novel Healthcare Delivery System
In a significant move towards digital healthcare, German Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) has proposed a bill aimed at facilitating permanent video consultation sick-listing for employees, even outside of pandemic times. The bill, titled the "Act for the Digital Modernization of Care and Nursing," is set to revolutionize the way sick leave is managed in Germany.
The proposed legislation seeks to modernize the healthcare system by embracing digital solutions, with a focus on digital care assistants. These apps, approved and tested by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, can be used for organizing care, fall prevention, and continence management. They also have the potential to monitor or document the condition of the person being cared for using sensors.
The bill proposes that the determination of work incapacity can be done through video consultation as part of exclusive remote treatment. This means that initial sick leave and extensions can be processed digitally, eliminating the need for personal contact between the patient and the doctor.
Under the bill, insured persons in the statutory long-term care insurance would have a claim to the reimbursement of digital care assistants. This move is expected to make digital healthcare more accessible to a larger population.
The Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) is tasked with adjusting the guideline for the "Act for the Digital Modernization of Care and Nursing" to accommodate video consultation sick-listing. Since summer, it has been possible to issue a sick leave note for up to seven days via video consultation, and Spahn's proposal aims to extend this facility further.
It's important to note that while the concept of digital sick leave has been discussed in Germany, there is no evidence that Jens Spahn has proposed a bill specifically focused on digital sick leave or remote care services during his tenure as Minister of Health (2018–2021). The Minister has, however, been active on other digital policy issues.
The bill, if passed, is expected to significantly impact the healthcare landscape in Germany, making it more digitalized and efficient. The Joint Federal Committee's adjustments to the guideline and the approval process by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices will be crucial in ensuring the success of this initiative.
This legislative reform intends to broaden the scope of digital health services, including the use of digital care assistants, which can be utilized for health-and-wellness purposes like organizing care, fall prevention, and continence management. Moreover, the bill emphasizes the significance of mental health, as it allows for remote video consultations to determine work incapacity and process initial sick leave and extensions, thereby promoting a digital modernization of mental-health care services in Germany.
