Technical error: AOK Bayern closes thousands of electronic patient records

Following a planned system update, AOK Bayern has experienced significant problems with the electronic patient record (ePA). The health insurance company has now confirmed that an error by the IT service providers involved led to approximately 6400 electronic patient records being temporarily closed.

Affected policyholders were informed immediately, the press office told the Ärztenachrichtendienst. This impacts about 0.14 percent of AOK Bayern's policyholders. The records have since been recreated and are generally usable again.

The records are not yet restored: “If you urgently need your previous documents, please contact your doctor's office, hospital, or pharmacy,” states an information letter to policyholders, which heise online has obtained. A reader contacted the editorial team because they were informed by their health insurance company about an alleged objection. Due to the objection, their file was closed.

In another letter dated February 4th, it is stated that AOK's service provider is currently “doing everything possible” to re-upload the documents to the new ePA. These will remain “consistently encrypted” during this process.

Data currently unavailable

The previously uploaded data has not been lost, emphasizes the affected AOK Bayern to the Ärztenachrichtendienst. They are currently just unavailable. Together with the IT service providers and Gematik, they are working with “highest priority” to restore the contents of the closed files. It is not yet possible to say when this will be completed.

AOK Bayern rules out a security incident. At no point did unauthorized third parties have access to the data. Policyholders can contact AOK Bayern with any questions.

In the past, there have been repeated criticisms – including due to unauthorized or erroneously enabled objections to ePAs, which could lead to the closure or deletion of files.

(mack)