Revolutionising the payment for digital solutions for patients

Once the acute phase of Covid-19 has passed, the NHS will need flexible and innovative approaches to tackle demand and manage the pressures in the health and care services. Many people are looking to digital tools and apps to revolutionise the way health and care is delivered, including facilitating an increased emphasis of supported self-management by patients. Much of the recent focus in NHS innovation has been on the importance of clinical evidence of effectiveness of digital applications. Whilst this is a vital component in demonstrating value, this promising opportunity will be lost if we do not also tackle the financial and practical aspects of how these products are to be purchased and paid for.

The Health Innovation Network and DigitalHealth.London are keen to help the NHS and innovators make the most of this opportunity, through collecting insights and opinions from subject matter experts over the last few months. Read our paper, which intends to stimulate the debate whilst setting out the key opportunities and challenges if the NHS is to make the most of the potential for fundamental improvements offered by digital tools.

The paper includes insights from health and care experts and innovators covering topics including:

• The opportunity of digital tools for patients.
• Different payment models for digital tools and apps.
  • Transformation funding from the NHS and other central sources.
  • Population commissioning.
  • Function-based payment by patients and “Freemium” models.
  • Function-based payment by the NHS.
  • Prescription-type payment (“apps on prescription”).
  • Payment for outcomes.
  • Payment through data access.
• The evolution of payment models for patient apps.
• Payment for end-to-end or “wrap around” services.