In the coming period, three major changes are on the horizon in the area of electronic billing for doctors. These changes will significantly affect daily practice operations and financial administration.
Below we give an overview of the changes:
- Mandatory transparency
Since September 2023, phase 1 of mandatory transparency has started. You must clearly report supplements that you charge for ambulatory care via electronic billing. This obligation increases transparency for both patients and health insurers. The aim is for all costs to become transparent and traceable. In addition to supplements, you must also report additional costs such as non-reimbursable services and material costs. We already communicated about this in the Mediris Café of September 2023. You can rewatch the Mediris Café here.
From October 2024, phase 2 starts. If you use supplements in this phase, you can correctly indicate this via the right pseudocodes as soon as the software is ready for it. The NIHDI provides these pseudocodes and additional guidelines, so billing can be done correctly and completely. This measure helps prevent misunderstandings and ambiguities about the cost structure for patients.
- Supplement ban
From 1 January 2025, the supplement ban comes into force for patients entitled to increased reimbursement (VT). This change applies to all doctors, regardless of whether they are contracted or non-contracted. This ban is part of a broader healthcare reform aimed at easing the financial burden on patients with increased reimbursement.
- Mandatory electronic billing
The general obligation to bill electronically comes into effect on 1 September 2025. This means that every doctor, both within and outside the third-party payer scheme, is obliged to bill all ambulatory medical care electronically. This measure applies to all doctors who perform medical procedures, and is intended to streamline administrative processes and reduce billing errors.
Doctors who do not yet have a suitable software package for electronic billing must take the necessary steps to adapt their systems by that date. In specific cases, such as technical limitations or force majeure, paper billing remains permitted.
What does this mean for you as a doctor?
It is very important not only to understand these changes well, but also to take the necessary steps in good time to prepare your practice for them. MediPortal offers advanced software solutions that are fully aligned with the latest laws and regulations. Our software supports seamless electronic billing, including the correct reporting of supplements and other additional costs. In addition, we keep you informed of further updates and changes, so your practice is always in line with the current requirements.
Do you have questions or need support? Contact MediPortal, we are happy to help you.
