Despite e-prescriptions: Why do doctors have to read health cards?

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Less time in the waiting room thanks to e-prescriptions and sick notes over the phone: Many people welcome these advantages of digitalization in the healthcare system. And yet sometimes going to the doctor is still necessary: ​​when the electronic health card has to be read in because it was not yet available in the relevant quarter.

Despite the e-prescription, I went to the doctor in the new quarter

Users complain about this in the BR24 comment column. User “HansiSagtNo” asked why it is necessary to go to the doctor if the prescription is already available digitally. “I’m on two medications for the rest of my life. Why do I still have to go to the doctor when it could be so easy?” Even if “Elstar” replied: “You only have to go to the doctor once at the beginning of the quarter with your card. Then just call. You’ll definitely be able to do it once.” Why is that?

It is true that doctors’ practices have to have their patients show their health card every quarter regulated in the federal treaty (external link)explains a spokesman for the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in response to a BR24 request. The agreement was concluded between the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, i.e. the central representation of interests of the statutory health and nursing care funds, and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.

On the one hand, the presentation serves to check the identity of the insured person. According to an AOK Bayern spokesman, information such as signature, name and date of birth can be found on the health cards. For the patient it is proof of insurance. For the doctor, the card also serves as proof of billing for the services provided with the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. This means that it is often necessary to go to the doctor for identification and billing in the quarter.

Expert: “Multiple prescription” is already possible

A so-called multiple prescription is already technically possible, explains Wolfgang Greiner, health economist at Bielefeld University and former chairman of the Expert Council for Health and Care in the BR24 interview. Prescriptions with the same content can be issued up to four times a year without having to insert the card again. However, the implementation sometimes fails due to the remuneration.

According to the Federal Ministry of Health, it is planned that chronically ill patients who do not require intensive care could also be billed quarterly in the future, a spokesman said upon request. This would avoid unnecessary doctor-patient contact.

With the card into the video consultation

With a video consultation you can the doctor or the practice staff confirms the identity of the patient check now during video telephony (external link), by holding the card in front of the camera. Patients must confirm verbally that they have insurance coverage.

Electronic replacement certificate instead of card

Since October, it has also been possible to show an electronic replacement certificate in practice instead of an electronic health card, for example if the card cannot be read. However, this option is currently voluntary before it becomes mandatory for doctors’ practices and health insurance companies from July 2025, it says Website of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (external link). Patients can request an electronic replacement certificate from their health insurance company via an app.

You must ask the relevant practice whether a doctor’s practice already offers this service. However, this option is not intended to replace the electronic health card, but should only be used if patients have forgotten or lost their card.

In the future, perhaps only digital certification

But: “I am sure that the health card will be completely digitalized at some point,” says health economist Greiner. There have already been similar developments in other areas, for example the DB Bahncard is now only available digitally. In the area of ​​health, we are a little behind in this development, but are still on the right track, says Greiner.