Health: Do electric patients are now going to tour?

Shortly before the start of the mandatory use of the new electronic patient files (EPA) in doctor’s practices, interest among insured persons gradually attracts a little more. At the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), the general local health insurance companies (AOK) and the Barmer, 1.37 million insured persons have now unlocked their e-files for themselves, as the health insurers announced on request.

That is almost 170,000 more than in mid -July – with a total of 45 million EPAs. The health insurers rely on a thrust when practices have to load important data into the e-files from this Wednesday.

The head of the AOK federal association, Carola Reimann, told the German press agency: “With the obligation to fill and use the EPA from October 1, the proportion of insured persons who come into contact with the topic should increase significantly.” TK boss Jens Baas told the dpa that now was the decisive phase. “Only if the EPA naturally belongs to every visit to the doctor will it develop its full benefit.”

Doctors will have to load data into e-files in the future

Around 70 million of the 74 million legally insured persons have received an EPA from their health insurance since January, which can also be rejected. The use in health facilities was first tested in three regions and then extended nationwide from spring. So far, doctors have been able to use the EPAs on a voluntary basis and set data for their patients. On October 1st, a duty will now take place for you.

TK boss Baas said: “In order for the EPA to develop its full potential, patients must be able to rely on the fact that their important medical information in the file is completely deposited with every practice.” It is therefore crucial that the specific requirements are implemented as quickly and across the board as possible. “All medical facilities in Germany must be connected to the EPA.” It must be integrated and filled by everyone into everyday treatment.

“Passive” e-files can also be filled

According to the mostly federal digital agency, around 58,000 of the 98,500 medical practices are already participating. Accordingly, there are already 19,700 dental practices, almost 6,500 pharmacies and 727 clinics. Most recently, a total of 1.9 million documents were uploaded weekly. According to the industry, the clinics calculate that a large part of the EPA can only use hospitalized in the course of next year.

In general, doctors can fill and see the EPA, even if patients do not actively use them. When plugging in the insurance card on the registration counter, an access right is given by default for 90 days. Patients can log into their EPA, but do not have to. Only if you do it can you determine which doctors can see which data and what not.

For first use of the app, you have to identify and unlock yourself once. To do this, you need an electronic ID card with a secret number (PIN) or the electric health card with PIN, which comes from the cash register at the request.

A little more insured use EPA actively

At the TK as the largest cash register, 800,000 insured persons now use their EPA – in mid -July it was 750,000. With the Barmer, the number of active users increased from 250,000 to more than 300,000. With the eleven AOKs, 265,000 insured persons have created a personal health ID that enables them to access 65,000 more than in mid-July. The “Ärzte Zeitung” first reported on the current figures. According to a survey by the newspaper, the DAK health is now around 100,000 actively switched e-files.

For the 8.7 million private patients, the EPA does not run so automatically. You can create private insurance on a voluntary basis for patients who have a health insured number for clear identification. Currently, five of the 36 companies with full disease insurance companies offer EPAs, as the association announced on request. E-recipes could use insured persons from 15 insurance companies. This could use more than 3.7 million privately insured persons at least one of the two digital applications.

Does the necessary software come in time everywhere?

The EPA should be able to accompany patients for a lifetime. By combining findings, laboratory values ​​or information about medication centrally, it should contribute to better treatments.

Finally, facilities had to wait for software modules for EPA use. According to the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), a fifth of the practices were therefore initially unable to work with the EPA. According to Gematik, more than 90 percent of the practices, dental practices and pharmacies should be technically equipped on October 1st.