A clinic in Tübingen demanded that a refugee obtain a new referral for the new quarter—even though only a hand injury required further treatment. This is against the rules. A referral is ‘valid for the entire duration of treatment.’ This is stipulated by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV).
No new referral every quarter
Sometimes it is difficult to get appointments with specialists. If an appointment cannot be made until after the quarter in which the referral was issued, patients do not need a new referral. In other cases, the following also applies: ‘Referrals are valid across quarters,’ according to the KBV. This means that patients undergoing treatment do not need a new referral every quarter. This also applies if the treatment began in the quarter in which the referral was issued but is not completed until the following quarter or ‘even lasts until the quarter after that or longer,’ as the KBV writes.
The rules also apply to clinics
Referrals to specialist practices or clinics can be issued for various reasons. For example, for special examinations or for the co-treatment or further treatment of patients. ‘This includes outpatient treatment and operations in hospital,’ according to the KBV.
For information from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians on the validity of referrals, see:
https://www.kbv.de/media/sp/Praxisinformation_Ueberweisungen.pdf
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