Health insurance companies are planning to integrate e-prescriptions into their apps – implications for the healthcare system

Health insurance companies are planning to integrate e-prescriptions into their apps – implications for the healthcare system

According to a report by www.heise.de, the integration of the e-prescription into the electronic patient files of health insurance companies is planned. The AOK health insurance companies and Barmer intend to integrate the e-prescription function directly into their apps instead of offering separate apps. This is happening in anticipation of the entry into force of the Digital Act to accelerate digitalization in the healthcare sector and the publication of the necessary specifications by Gematik.

The introduction of e-prescriptions into the health insurance companies' apps could lead to a decrease in interest in separate e-prescription apps, as insured persons can use the function directly via the existing apps. According to a quick survey by the North Rhine Pharmacists' Association, the proportion of prescriptions redeemed via the e-prescription app is currently only 1 percent. The integration of the e-prescription into the health insurance companies' apps could therefore have a significant impact on the use of the e-prescription.

The delays in the publication of specifications by Gematik could also have an impact on the market, as they influence the integration of the e-prescription function into the health insurance companies' ePA apps. In addition, the introduction of Health ID, which is a potential means of authentication in healthcare, is also affected by delays. These developments could advance or slow down digitalization in the healthcare system, depending on the specific impact on market participants and the care of insured persons.