ABDA Newsletter Addresses Doctor's Title on Electronic Prescriptions

<h2>Electronic Prescription: ABDA Newsletter Clarifies Doctor's Professional Titles</h2> <p>The German Apothecaries Association (ABDA) has issued a new newsletter focusing on the mandatory inclusion of a doctor's professional title, such as 'Specialist in General Medicine,' on all electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions). The newsletter, distributed on January 8, 2024, highlights that incomplete or incorrect titles can render an e-prescription invalid and undeliverable.</p> <p>According to ABDA, the absence of a proper professional title violates the German Ordinance on Prescription of Medicinal Products (AMVV). Pharmacies are thus required to verify these titles to avoid so-called 'Retax' risks, where health insurance companies refuse to reimburse the pharmacy for the dispensed medication. If a title is missing entirely or is not clearly identifiable as a valid designation, pharmacies are advised to return the prescription to the doctor for correction.</p> <p>The newsletter clarifies that a pharmacy's check primarily concerns whether a 'meaningful' professional title has been provided. For instance, a designation like 'General Medicine' is considered sufficiently meaningful, even if it lacks the full specialist qualification, and typically does not pose a 'Retax' risk.</p> <p>ABDA, in conjunction with the German Medical Association (DAV), is actively working to improve data quality in the electronic prescription system. They advocate for mandatory selection from an official list of specialist titles within prescribing software, rather than free-text entry, to prevent errors. These efforts aim to eliminate future discrepancies that lead to 'Retax' issues for pharmacies.</p> <p>The ABDA's "E-Rezept" newsletter is available free of charge to all interested pharmacists and other parties via the ABDA website.</p>