(image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, July 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Digital therapeutics (DTx), used to treat insomnia and depression through smartphone applications, may soon be covered by health insurance.
According to industry sources, the enactment bill for DTx health insurance guidelines recently passed the sub-committee of the health insurance policy deliberation committee under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
DTx differs from drugs, shots, or bioelectronic medicine as it utilizes software to provide medical treatment.
South Korea’s insomnia treatment softwares, such as Somzz by Aimmed Co. and WELT-I by WELT Corp., have received authorization but are not yet eligible for health insurance coverage.
DTx is designed to require a doctor’s prescription, and its marketability is close to zero if it isn’t covered by health insurance.
With the new enactment bill passing the sub-committee, a Korean-made DTx covered by health insurance is expected to be released as early as next month.
The new guidelines that passed the sub-committee allow for the temporary enlistment of DTx in the health insurance system, giving employers the option to choose whether DTx is available for selective coverage (10 percent).
Under selective coverage, patients pay 90 percent of the medical cost, while health insurance covers the remaining 10 percent.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
