Assisted telemedicine (aTM) has become an integral part of routine healthcare services in community pharmacies since July 1, following the enforcement of the Digital Healthcare Acceleration Act (DigiG) in March 2024. This legislative advancement enables pharmacies to provide a range of telemedicine services, which are now included in statutory health insurance benefits.

Overview of Assisted Telemedicine Services

There are three primary services eligible for fixed-rate reimbursement through pharmacies:

• Structured initial assessment procedure
• Video consultation
• Combination of structured initial assessment and video consultation

Each service is billed using a dedicated special pharmaceutical central number (Sonder-PZN). The German Pharmacists' Association (DAV) and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband) collaboratively defined these services under Section 129, Paragraph 5h of the Social Code Book V (SGB V). The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) approved the arbitration decision concerning reimbursement rates and documentation requirements.

Billing and Electronic Submission Procedures

Pharmacies submit special billing documents alongside standard prescription data to health insurers, ensuring proper reimbursement for aTM services. According to current regulations, pharmacies must transmit these billing data to the insurer no later than one month after the end of the month in which the service was provided. The data transfer is managed through the pharmacy's billing service center.

While the law mandates electronic billing for these services starting on March 1, 2027, many health insurers are already prepared to process electronic submissions ahead of this deadline. The Schleswig-Holstein Pharmacists' Association advises that pharmacies with compatible pharmacy management systems can begin electronic billing immediately, provided the insurer's data acceptance point supports it. Inquiries with the health insurance association confirm that all statutory health insurers and their acceptance offices have been able to receive electronic billing data since July 1, 2026.

Private Insurance and Paper Billing

For privately insured patients, aTM services can also be billed, but these individuals must first pay for the services themselves. The pharmacy provides a special billing receipt, which patients can then submit to their private insurer for reimbursement. This process continues to rely exclusively on paper-based documentation, as electronic submission is not currently supported for private insurance claims.

Updating Pharmacy Offerings in Digital Portals

Pharmacies participating in aTM are encouraged to update their digital profiles accordingly. By logging into the Gedisa pharmacy portal and activating the 'Assisted Telemedicine' option in their profile, participating pharmacies can signal their service offering. Once updated, their status is reflected on the apoguide.de platform, making them discoverable through dedicated search and filter tools for patients seeking telemedicine-enabled pharmacies.

Background and Implementation

The implementation of assisted telemedicine in pharmacies represents a significant step in the digitization of healthcare in Germany. The regulatory framework and technical infrastructure were established through cooperation between professional associations and health insurance providers, with oversight from the Federal Ministry of Health. The process ensures that both the technical and administrative aspects of electronic billing are standardized, enabling smoother integration into existing pharmacy workflows.

Stakeholders emphasize the importance of confirming that all technical and administrative requirements are met before switching to electronic billing. Pharmacies are advised to coordinate closely with their software providers and billing centers to ensure compatibility with insurer systems. As the transition progresses, further updates and refinements to the billing process are expected, particularly in anticipation of the mandatory electronic submission deadline in March 2027.