The federal, state and social insurance companies have today agreed on an investment program of 50 million euros for digitalization in the healthcare system. Plans include, among other things, an ELGA health app for patients, a central booking system for appointments with doctors and the technical implementation of diagnosis coding. The further expansion of the ELGA electronic health record was also decided today by the Federal Target Control Commission (BZK). Eight additional MRI machines were also approved, which will go into operation as early as 2025. Discussions should begin with manufacturers to expand free vaccinations. “The health reform will reach patients from 2025,” says Health Minister Johannes Rauch. ***
At a meeting of the Federal Target Control Commission in Vienna today, the federal government, states and social insurance decided on the eHealth work program for the next few years. An additional 50 million euros per year will be available for digitalization projects in the future. The ELGA electronic health record remains the central platform and will be expanded to include additional functions. A health app is planned that clearly displays data such as diagnoses, laboratory values or medication for patients. The budget for the ELGA will be increased from 10.25 to 15 million euros per year.
The technical implementation of the diagnostic coding was also decided. It was originally planned for statutory health insurance physicians from the beginning of 2025. In order to ensure practical implementation in doctors’ software programs, the introduction will be postponed to January 1, 2026. The diagnosis coding will then start at the same time for statutory health insurance and elective doctors.
A common booking system for appointments with general practitioners will be pushed forward next year. In the future, patients will be able to receive appointments directly with resident doctors via the hotline 1450. Other partners such as hospital outpatient clinics or non-medical health professions can subsequently also be connected to the booking platform. The federal, state and social security authorities decided on the concept for the booking system on Friday. The next step is to create a precise time and cost plan for implementation.
Eight additional MRI machines
In order to reduce waiting times for MR and CT examinations, the federal government, states and social insurance have agreed to expand the equipment by 2030. Eight additional MRI machines will be purchased next year, initially in Lower Austria, Styria, Tyrol and Vienna. Collaborations with hospitals are also planned in order to use their devices for health insurance examinations. Three additional CT devices in Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg are also planned for next year.
For the planned expansion of the public vaccination program, a number of eligible vaccinations will be scientifically evaluated and financially assessed in the coming months. At the same time, discussions with the vaccine manufacturers are also planned.
Health care reform is having an impact
Health Minister Johannes Rauch: “We laid the foundation stone with the health reform a year ago. The improvements for patients are now being gradually implemented. There is still a lot of potential in the area of digitalization to improve the benefits for patients. It was particularly important to me that we agreed on a committed work program here.”
Christine Haberlander, Deputy Governor of Upper Austria: “Together across all party and organizational boundaries, we have a duty to further improve care for the people in our country. Today’s resolutions are clear improvements and show that the path of coexistence is worthwhile for the people in our country.”
Andreas Huss, chairman of the ÖGK and chairman of the conference of social insurance providers: “The expansion of ELGA is a milestone that is intended to create more security and transparency for patients about their findings and laboratory results. The planned booking platform brings a modern service quality into the system and the planned expansion of the low-threshold vaccination program to include further vaccinations strengthens, as I have been calling for for a long time, the very important prevention, which we should continue to massively expand together with health literacy.