The Techniker Krankenkasse has been using the Verax List, the predecessor of the present cardtrust service, since the fourth quarter of 2004. Among other features, the well-known system developed by CompuGROUP identifies and blocks expired or cancelled health insurance identification cards.
Integrated within the physicians' information system, the service checks insurance cards presented by patients. After verifying the cardholder's entitlement to benefits from the Techniker Krankenkasse, the system checks to ensure that data regarding the patient's current co-payment status are correct and up to date.
Cardtrust provides the Techniker Krankenkasse substantial protection against billing fraud. Employing a combination of systems, Germany's largest statutory health insurance fund has been taking effective measures to prevent the abuse of health insurance cards for many years, although insurers have been required to do so by law only since 2007.
According to current plans developed by gematik (Gesellschaft für Telematikanwendungen der Gesundheitskarte mbH), the new electronic health card (eGK) will be introduced nationwide beginning this year. The health insurance identification card currently in use will be gradually phased out. In order to satisfy the requirements of the law, insurers need a system that is capable of protecting both eGKs and health insurance identification cards against abuse and unauthorized exemption from co-payments for prescriptions.
On the basis of the proven Verax service, CompuGROUP developed the new cardtrust system, which offers the protection required by law for both types of cards.
"With cardtrust, we now offer all statutory health insurance funds an innovative solution that identifies cases of abuse on a day-to-day basis and protects our health care system against major losses. The service is available immediately and will provide effective protection both during and after the transition phase for the eGK", notes Jan Broer, Chairman of the Executive Board of CompuGROUP Holding AG, with regard to the impact of the new system.
As Hermann Bärenfänger from the Techniker Krankenkasse explains, "The decision in favour of cardtrust was logical and consistent. We had already avoided annual losses in the high million range with Verax. The use of cardtrust will pay off for us and our policyholders in a very real sense. We are pleased to have found a proven partner in CompuGROUP, a company that is able to offer trustworthy e-health technologies quickly and reliably, especially during times of change."