By Fineline Cube 
The Hainan provincial healthcare security administration and health commission bureaus jointly issued the “Notice on Improving the Charging Management of Digital Therapeutics,” set to take effect on June 1, 2025. This notice aims to enhance the price management of digital therapeutics medical services.
Digital Therapeutics Defined
Digital therapeutics are defined as medical interventions driven by software and supported by evidence, designed for the treatment, management, or prevention of diseases. They assist medical institutions in reducing reliance on human resources and shifting towards technology-driven approaches, thereby enhancing the efficiency of medical resource utilization.
Implementation Guidelines
The notice provides guidelines for medical institutions to address charging needs for digital therapeutics services, such as digital examinations, diagnoses, and treatments based on artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and specialized computer software. Institutions may apply for revisions compatible with existing pricing items without requiring new price item applications.
Charging Standards
For patients using self-provided digital therapeutics products, medical institutions may charge for consultation and guidance services under outpatient consultation or general medical service fees. These charges will not be covered by medical insurance. For services delivered through institutional use of digital therapeutics, medical institutions may apply to add surcharges or extensions to existing service pricing items. Charging standards can be temporarily set independently by the institutions and implemented after filing, typically on a yuan-per-person-per-month basis. These items will not be included in medical insurance coverage.
Integration with Family Doctor Services
The notice encourages the integration of digital therapeutics into family doctor contract services. Service packages involving digital therapeutics will be jointly developed by Hainan’s provincial healthcare security administration and health commission bureaus. Costs arising from digital therapeutics within existing family doctor contracts will be covered by contracted service fees, without additional charges.-Fineline Info & Tech