Software as Medicine: The Rise of Digital Technology in Modern Health Care

First Report Managed Care is thrilled to introduce Andy Molnar, CEO of the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA), as he launches a monthly blog series. As the leader of the premier global organization for the digital therapeutics industry, Andy will share his unique insights into this rapidly evolving field that’s transforming health care delivery and patient outcomes.

In these executive posts, Andy will offer expert perspectives on industry trends, regulatory developments, and the potential of digital therapeutics to address critical health care gaps. From policy breakthroughs to technological advancements, you’ll get an insider’s view of the forces driving this innovative sector.

Andy Molnar, CEO, Digital Therapeutics Alliance

Digital therapeutics is an incredibly exciting way to evolve health care in the 21st century. There are gaps in health care that can only be solved through innovation. For example, the recommended treatment for insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi). However, in France, there are only 3 doctors who deliver CBTi, leaving patients with limited options: take sleeping medication or suffer. An alternative solution? A clinically validated, federally regulated app that can streamline the delivery of this therapy to anyone in the country. Although I use France as an example due to available statistics, similar situations exist worldwide.

Software as a medical device has the potential to dramatically change health care on a global scale, addressing issues that simply cannot be tackled by other mechanisms. However, as with any emerging industry, we need to ensure that it is done right. Consider this: there are over 300 000 mobile health products on the app store. How can patients know if what they’re using is safe and effective? How can physicians trust products used by patients to manage chronic diseases? Can we trust AI if it’s built into an app? What if that artificial intelligence inadvertently introduces racial bias, instead of eliminating it?

This is why the Digital Therapeutics Alliance exists.

There is no question that software will play a major role in health care delivery and in advancing the treatment, management, and prevention of diseases or disorders. We need to ensure that regulation and policy align with safe and effective treatments.

This is an incredibly exciting time for the advancement of clinically validated digital therapeutics. We have coverage pathways defined in Germany and France, and for the first time, Medicare has shown that they are ready to start paying for software-only interventions in the most recent proposed Physician Fee Schedule. We are working with CMS and our community to finalize these codes for 2025.

While this is still the beginning of a very exciting shift in health care, I think we can all agree that technology will define the future of health care, and digital therapeutics will be at the forefront of this new world.