Berlin (dpa -AFX) – The introduction of electronic patient files (EPA) for health data that started almost four weeks ago is progressing. According to the mostly federal digital agency Gematik, 70.49 million E-files have now been activated. The statutory health insurance companies would have completed the investment for their insured persons who did not object. The first private health insurance companies would also have equipped their members with an EPA. There are a total of 74 million insured persons.
Since January 15, all health insurance patients have gradually received an EPA – unless you reject it. The operational operation is initially tested in three model regions. In Hamburg with the surrounding area, Franconia and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, a pilot phase also started on January 15. The EPA should try out around 300 practices, pharmacies and clinics there in everyday life. The nationwide use should start as soon as the system runs stable in the regions.
Nationwide operation “at the end of March/early April”
The Gematik said that an exam for this was planned in mid -March. In the case of positive experiences in the regions, a nationwide introduction is possible from April. The implementation of additional security measures is as intended and is also a significant criterion for this.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) told the “Tagesspiegel” that the tests in the model regions were promising. “Technical adjustments and security updates are still incorporated in the course of the pilot phase, so that the nationwide rollout can probably take place as announced at the end of March, in early April.”
Only then could doctors see the EPA of individual patients in treatments, fill them and use existing data for treatment, the minister explained. Already now you can use the e-files via health insurance apps to check billing and prescription data and uploading treatment documents.
The EPA is said to be a digital memory for findings, laboratory values and information on medication and accompany patients for a lifetime. You can view them via apps on the smartphone.
Legal changeover
In 2021, E-files had already been introduced as a selectable offer that insured persons have to take. But they were hardly used. Therefore, the principle was reversed with a law of the traffic light coalition: now everyone is getting an e-file unless you are actively contradicting. Lauterbach said: “I am firmly convinced that the EPA will be an integral part of everyday care.”/Sam/dp/jha