Advancing digitalization: 30 million to boost the e-patient file

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Parliament wants to make federal resources available for the widespread introduction of electronic health records (EPD). The Council of States became the second council to approve the transition funding, despite widespread criticism of the project. There are differences in the modalities.

With 37 votes in favor and 2 abstentions, the small chamber approved on Tuesday a commitment loan of 30 million francs for a period of up to five years. The bill is expected to come into effect at the end of 2024. The federal government can then award an amount of up to 30 francs per opened EPD.

This financial support is subject to at least equal participation by the cantons. To create an incentive for core communities to quickly distribute the EHR, the federal government’s support contribution is based on the number of electronic health records opened. The core communities can apply for this financial support retroactively for all EHRs opened since its enactment.

The associated partial revision of the federal law on electronic patient records also received a clear majority in the Council of States. The Council of States based itself largely on the Federal Council’s draft and rejected further National Council resolutions so as not to overload the proposal.

Make the division of labor clear

According to the gist, the substantive debate over the future design of the EPD should be addressed as part of a comprehensive reform. The Federal Council has announced one for the summer of 2024. Among other things, the division of tasks between the federal government and the cantons and the financing of the EPD must be clarified.

With changes to the law on the electronic patient file, the Federal Council also wants to ensure that not only inpatient hospitals and healthcare companies work with the electronic file, but also outpatient health professionals. He also wants all basic insurers to receive an electronic file for free in the future if they want one.

According to the Federal Council, this extensive revision of the law will take several years. To promote the upfront dissemination of the EPD, the Federal Council’s separate proposal provides transitional funding for the core communities, i.e. the EPD providers.

There is a backlog in the field of digitalization

First of all, it is important to advance the e-patient file with streamlined transitional financing, Commission President Damian Müller (FDP/LU) said in the Council of States. “When it comes to digitalization in healthcare, Switzerland is at best in the lower midfield.”

Unlike the National Council, the Council of States refused to make any substantial changes to the project before the comprehensive reform. For example, the small chamber does not want to force the cantons to support all core communities equally. This would mean that, according to the majority, the investments that the various cantons have already made would not be sufficiently protected.

The Council of States also rejected an obligation for all service providers to be affiliated, as decided by the National Council. While this is critical to the functioning of the EHR, it should be addressed as part of the comprehensive review of the e-patient record.

A minority saw it differently. “If we really want to make progress, the EPD must become mandatory,” says Brigitte Häberli-Koller (center/TG). Peter Hegglin (centre/VG) also called for “clear and binding orders”. The spread of the EPD is sobering. “It takes pressure.”

The eastern Swiss health directors even want to cancel the project, as several members of the Council of States stated. “But it is too late to stop the moving train,” says Hannes Germann (SVP/SH). The design flaws should be addressed later.

With the EPD, all important health information can be clearly stored in one place and can be accessed easily and securely at any time. But there is still a problem with the implementation. Only a few electronic files have been opened so far. The proposal goes back to the National Council. (SDA)

Source:Blick