In mid-October, the Japanese government’s healthcare digital transformation group met to revise reimbursements and increase reimbursements in the digital space. The government hopes to increase cost-effectiveness through digital medical fee revisions. The government has 3 targets including – 1. implementing medical reimbursement fees for digital technologies, 2. setting up a national medical information program, and 3. establishing a structured electronic medical records system. The government hopes that medical reimbursement for digital therapies will reduce healthcare insurance costs. A national medical information system will help increase the use of key healthcare data. Utilizing a standard electronic medical record will help to improve treatments and help develop new medical products. The government’s 2022 Basic Policy for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform document provides more details on these 3 initiatives.
