Further development of the electronic patient dossier
The electronic patient dossier (EPD) is to be further developed and advanced in two stages. The first phase concerns an amendment to the Federal Act on the Electronic Patient File. The second step concerns the ordinance on financial assistance, which will be sent out for consultation by May 2, 2023.
In April 2022, the Federal Council instructed the Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) to prepare two consultation drafts on the electronic patient dossier (EPD). To elaborate. On the one hand, this involves a comprehensive revision of the Federal Electronic Patient Dossier Act (EPDG), and on the other, transitional financing until the comprehensive revision comes into force.
Transitional financing and simplified opening process
According to the federal government, various measures are now to be taken to further develop the EPD in order to increase the benefits for all parties involved. For example, hospital and care infrastructures as outpatient service providers are to be obliged to use the EPD. Furthermore, the EPD should be legally anchored as an instrument of the mandatory health care insurance (OKP). This is intended to ensure that the goals of the mandatory health insurance (OKP) in terms of higher treatment quality and better cost efficiency are achieved, as the federal government writes in a statement.
The cantons will also have to provide temporary financial assistance in the same amount as the federal government. The transitional financing will be brought forward as a separate bill from the comprehensive revision and is expected to come into force at the end of 2024. A payment in the amount of 30 million Swiss francs is necessary to guarantee the envisaged financial assistance from the federal government.
The comprehensive revision of the law is likely to take several years. The present partial revision is also intended to simplify the process for opening an EPD. This currently requires consent with a handwritten signature or a qualified electronic signature (QES). According to the federal government, the QES has not become established on the market as expected. Therefore, another form of electronic consent is now also to be possible.
Sources:
www.e-health-suisse.ch
www.patientendossier.ch
