(de-news.net) – The Federal Health Ministry has proposed a law that would allow patients to use their electronic patient record (ePA) to make appointments and get referrals. Digital solutions would enhance coordination, shorten office wait times, and get the healthcare system ready for a future primary care model. What is more, standardized examinations by statutory appointment centers would ascertain medical need.
A draft ‘Law on Data and Digital Innovation in Healthcare’ indicates that initiatives proposed by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) would enable patients to schedule medical appointments and obtain referrals through their electronic patient record (ePA) in the near future. The proposal envisions that the appointment service centers operated by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians would conduct a standardized initial evaluation to determine medical necessity. Once such a determination has been made, patients would be able to secure appointments digitally, either for in‑person consultations at a medical practice or through video-based consultations, streamlining access to care.
The draft emphasizes that these measures are intended to establish preparatory conditions for the forthcoming primary care model, providing insured individuals with more user-friendly digital pathways into outpatient treatment while simultaneously reducing administrative burdens for healthcare providers. Patients presenting with acute medical concerns would be directed to the standardized assessment system as an initial triage mechanism. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds and the KBV are expected to develop detailed guidelines for the deployment of telematics infrastructure, which is anticipated to become available for facilitating electronic referrals and improving post-consultation coordination.
Digital oversight and data protection for appointment platforms
The legislation would also require healthcare providers to implement these systems by September 1, 2029, ensuring that the exchange of information—particularly between general practitioners and specialists—is accelerated and more efficient, thereby reducing waiting times at medical offices. In exceptional circumstances, patients would retain the option of receiving their medical documents in either digital or paper format, with all referral data and associated information scheduled for deletion after 100 days to safeguard privacy and data security.
Moreover, the draft stipulates regulatory oversight for digital appointment booking platforms, including Doctolib and Jameda, with the KBV and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds defining the requirements to prevent commercial exploitation of appointment data and to guarantee compliance with established standards for data protection and cybersecurity. The ministry frames this legislation as a dual-purpose initiative: it is intended to accelerate the broader digitalization of healthcare services while simultaneously laying the foundational infrastructure for the planned primary care system, aligning technological modernization with enhanced patient access and provider efficiency.
Audio: TTSFree
