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Connecting businesses in the healthcare trades to the telematics infrastructure

Specialist providers of medical aids in the healthcare trades are being connected to the telematics infrastructure (TI). The TI is the digital network connecting everyone involved in the healthcare system. Opticians, hearing aid providers, orthopaedic technology businesses and other chamber-regulated healthcare trades gain access to the TI using the electronic institution card (SMC-B) and the electronic professional card (eBA). The latter is optional.

At a glance

From 1 October 2027, businesses in the healthcare trades will be legally required to connect to the telematics infrastructure. The digital prescription for medical aids and therapeutic services (eVO) will follow once the necessary statutory framework is in place.

The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds largely reimburses the cost of connecting businesses in the healthcare trades to the telematics infrastructure through monthly flat-rate payments. This covers both the technical equipment required – the card terminal and connector – and the ongoing cost of the SMC-B institution card. Full details of the eligibility criteria and application process are available from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds.

Functions: what are the SMC-B and eBA used for?

The SMC-B institution card allows businesses in the healthcare trades to authenticate themselves to telematics infrastructure (TI) services as authorised institutions. Using the SMC-B, these specialist providers can access the digital prescription for medical aids and therapeutic services (eVO) and communicate securely via encrypted channels within the TI. 

Specialist providers of medical aids do not need an electronic professional card (eBA) to use TI services. The eBA gives staff working for opticians, hearing aid providers, orthopaedic technology and orthopaedic footwear businesses and, where applicable, dental laboratories access to sensitive professional data and services within the TI. It also enables them to create a qualified electronic signature (QES) for signing documents digitally.

The benefits of the telematics infrastructure

Missing information about treatment histories, prescriptions and medication can make day-to-day work more difficult for businesses in the healthcare trades. Following up on missing information is often time-consuming. The telematics infrastructure removes this barrier by enabling information to flow securely and efficiently between everyone involved, allowing specialist providers of medical aids to focus on what matters most: their patients. 

  • More time for what really matters: digital prescriptions and secure email replace paper-based processes, improving efficiency. 
  • Fast and secure communication: KIM enables specialist providers of medical aids to communicate quickly and securely with other healthcare organisations, such as medical practices and health insurance funds. 
  • Accurate and secure billing: In future, the digital prescription (eVO) will make it possible to bill for services more quickly and with fewer errors. 
  • The highest standards for data transmission and storage provide greater security when exchanging data.

Find out more about the telematics infrastructure

TI applications for professionals in the healthcare trades

ePrescription

In future, the digital prescription (eVO) will allow medical aids and therapeutic services to be prescribed digitally. These include prostheses, glasses, walking aids and supports, as well as physiotherapy prescriptions. The eVO is being introduced in stages. Once the eVO is introduced, businesses will need to be connected to the TI in order to receive prescriptions for medical aids and bill for the services provided.

Find out more about ePrescription
KIM: Communication in Healthcare

KIM allows messages and documents, such as operation reports or MRI images, to be exchanged by email. Communication takes place within the protected TI network. Only authenticated users have access and can send and receive encrypted messages. KIM also provides a secure way to communicate with health insurance funds, for example when exchanging cost estimates, applications and approvals.

Find out more about KIM
TIM: the TI Messenger

The TI Messenger is being established as an alternative standard communication channel to KIM. It enables instant messaging between providers of medical aids and medical practices, hospitals, pharmacies and payers and, where desired, patients, using smartphones, tablets and desktop computers.

Find out more about TIM

SMC-B and eBA – which card do you need?

Businesses in the healthcare trades need an SMC-B institution card to connect to the telematics infrastructure. An electronic professional card (eBA) is not currently required, although it can be useful for certain tasks.

Pictogram Person Circle

The SMC-B institution card 

Businesses in the healthcare trades use the SMC-B and its digital equivalent, the SM-B, to authenticate themselves to the telematics infrastructure. 

The SMC-B gives employees access to the telematics infrastructure. Every provider of medical aids needs at least one SMC-B to connect to the TI and use its applications. 

In addition to the SMC-B, connecting to the telematics infrastructure requires various hardware-based technical components, such as eHealth card terminals and connectors.

Guide: how to apply for an SMC-B

Application portal: order your SMC-B now

Pictogram ID card with tick

The electronic professional card (eBA) 

The electronic professional card (eBA) allows professionals working in certain chamber-regulated healthcare trades – including optometry, hearing aid provision, orthopaedic technology, orthopaedic shoemaking and, where applicable, dental technology – to authenticate themselves personally. The eBA confirms that the holder is authorised to practise and provides personal access to sensitive professional data and services within the telematics infrastructure. It also enables the holder to create a qualified electronic signature (QES) for signing documents digitally.

Application portal: order your eBA now

Electronic Health Professional Card (eHPC)

With the Health Professional Card or the Professional Card, members of the following professions can identify themselves personally within the high-security TI: doctors, dentists, psychotherapists, pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics, occupational therapists, podiatrists, speech and language therapists, dental technicians, orthopaedic shoemakers, orthopaedic technicians, hearing aid acousticians and opticians.

Applying for an eBA and SMC-B

Applications for an SMC-B or eBA are submitted to the relevant Chamber of Skilled Crafts. An SMC-B is essential for connecting to the TI.

The electronic professional card is optional. Once an application for an SMC-B or eBA has been submitted to the Chamber of Skilled Crafts, the card can be ordered from a trust service provider such as D-Trust.

To the Application Portal: order your SMC-B or eBA now

How businesses in the healthcare trades use the telematics infrastructure

Pictogram hands

Faster access to patient data with the SMC-B

Authenticating using the SMC-B institution card and

  1. supporting new customers and patients

    KIM: Communication in Healthcare allows medical documents to be exchanged quickly and securely by email. Queries can also be resolved promptly with healthcare providers such as medical practices and hospitals, or with payers.

  2. Improving treatment 

    ePrescription: Services provided can be documented digitally, enabling eVo prescriptions to be processed without paper.

    KIM: Secure exchange of documents relating to the course of treatment.

    TIM: The TI Messenger enables ad hoc messaging with other healthcare professionals and other participants in the TI.

  3. Speeding up billing 

    ePrescription: Once the eVO is introduced, prescriptions for medical aids can be received quickly and accurately and the services provided can be billed.

    KIM: Billing records can be sent quickly and securely in digital form via KIM.

Costs for SMC-B and eBA

Product description
Price in EUR*

SMC-B for businesses in the healthcare trades

For opticians, hearing aid providers, orthopaedic technology businesses, orthopaedic footwear businesses and dental laboratories
390,76 €
Order

Businesses in the healthcare trades use the electronic institution card (SMC-B) to authenticate themselves. The SMC-B gives their employees access to functions of the telematics infrastructure (TI), including eVO prescriptions and the KIM and TIM communication services.

  • Every business in the healthcare trades needs at least one SMC-B to connect to the TI and use its applications.
  • Part of the cost of the institution card is covered by the flat-rate operating cost allowance under the refinancing agreement with the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds.
  • The institution card is valid for five years, after which a new card must be ordered.

* Prices in euros excluding VAT at the applicable statutory rate.

Product description
Price in EUR*

eBA for businesses in the healthcare trades

For specialist providers of medical aids working for opticians, hearing aid providers, orthopaedic technology businesses, orthopaedic footwear businesses and dental laboratories
420,17 €
Order

Specialist providers of medical aids use the electronic professional card (eBA) to authenticate themselves personally within the telematics infrastructure. The eBA provides personalised access to sensitive professional TI data and services and enables its holder to create qualified electronic signatures (QES) for signing documents digitally within the telematics infrastructure.

  • An eBA is not mandatory for access to the telematics infrastructure (TI). 
  • The electronic professional card is valid for five years, after which a new card must be ordered.

* Prices in euros excluding VAT at the applicable statutory rate.

Frequently asked questions about SMC-B and eBA

As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, many established processes are changing – and this naturally raises questions. Here we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the SMC-B institution card and the electronic professional card (eBA).

To use the telematics infrastructure (TI), a business needs an SMC-B institution card, a card terminal and a connector. The SMC-B gives employees access to the telematics infrastructure and is read using the card terminal. A connector links the card terminal to the organisation’s IT system and ensures that data is exchanged securely over a virtual private network (VPN).

Authorisation to obtain an SMC-B or eBA is granted by the relevant Chamber of Skilled Crafts to businesses or individuals who can demonstrate the professional qualifications required to practise one of the healthcare trades listed under numbers 33 to 37 of Annex A to the German Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung). Evidence is provided by entry in the Skilled Trades Register as a suitably qualified business owner or operations manager. The Chamber of Skilled Crafts reviews the application and then issues an application reference number, which can be used to order an electronic professional card or institution card through the D-Trust eHealth Application Portal.

The SMC-B institution card, like the eBA, is valid for a maximum of five years and cannot be renewed. A replacement card must be applied for before the existing card expires. D-Trust emails businesses in the healthcare trades in good time to remind them to order a replacement. Customers receive several notifications before their card expires, helping to ensure that a new card can be applied for and ordered in time.

Find out more about our products

Electronic Health Professional Card (eHPC)

With the Health Professional Card or the Professional Card, members of the following professions can identify themselves personally within the high-security TI: doctors, dentists, psychotherapists, pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics, occupational therapists, podiatrists, speech and language therapists, dental technicians, orthopaedic shoemakers, orthopaedic technicians, hearing aid acousticians and opticians.

Secure identity credentials for institutions

Whether SM-B institutional certificate or HSM-B: both solutions enable healthcare institutions to authenticate securely within the telematics infrastructure and to access eGK data securely.

Do you have any questions about our eHealth products? Contact us:

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