Prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) are software-based therapies that deliver clinical benefits to patients, either alone or in combination with other forms of treatment. PDTs are designed and tested much like traditional prescription drugs, but rather than swallowing a pill or taking an injection, patients can receive cognitive therapy through their electronic devices, including mobile phones—making care possible from any location. PDTs have been shown to benefit those with mental health conditions like depression and substance abuse, providing an effective alternative or complimentary therapy.
However, many PDTs do not currently fit into one of the statutorily defined coverage categories for the Medicare or Medicaid programs, leaving beneficiaries of those programs—which include some of America’s most vulnerable populations—without access to these effective and accessible treatments.
The Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act is an important bipartisan bill that would remedy this access disparity by creating a comprehensive benefit category and expanding Medicare coverage to include PDTs. AMCP supports this bill to help ensure that Medicare patients have a more level playing field and can access the therapies that work best for them.
Join AMCP in urging Members of Congress to cosponsor the Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act to increase patient access and quality of care.
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