Scheduled for launch in 2023, the “paiement immédiat direct” (PID) system is on the verge of becoming a reality in Luxembourg. Once operational, patients will only be required to cover their share of medical expenses.
Importantly, PID will eliminate the need for patients to manually submit reimbursement claims to the CNS, as the computer system will handle this process.
Minister of Social Security Claude Haagen has confirmed that the new IT system will become operational on 20 September. Starting on that date, medical practitioners can begin installing the necessary software, provided that the companies responsible for medical software in practices are also prepared for the rollout.
Patients will not need any specialised software to benefit from PID. They will simply pay their portion of the medical bill. Doctors, in turn, will validate the medical procedures and the patient’s payment using the computer system. The CNS will automatically settle the remaining balance of the bill.
General practitioners will be the first to adopt the PID software, followed by dentists, with plans to expand the system to various medical specialisations, as soon as are ready to have the system installed.
Despite the government’s aspirations, Dr Alain Schmit, President of the Association of Doctors and Dentists (AMMD), maintains a degree of scepticism regarding the upcoming implementation of the PID system. In his view, PID does not represent a truly ambitious digital approach, especially when compared to the Digital Health Network (DHN) application initiated by the AMMD.
The AMMD’s DHN application not only expedites reimbursements but also facilitates the digital transfer of documents like medical certificates and prescriptions. However, disagreements among stakeholders have hindered its implementation thus far, though the CNS has indicated that solutions are actively being sought.
Minister Haagen emphasised that immediate direct payment benefits patients, the CNS, and medical practitioners alike. Doctors will experience reduced administrative burdens, gain immediate access to funds no longer incur bank charges to transfer funds.
It is worth noting that PID will coexist alongside the traditional payment system, allowing individuals to pay for services as usual and subsequently claim reimbursement from the CNS.
To incentivise software publishers to expedite the installation of PID software in medical practices, the Ministry has proposed a €625 incentive per installation. Approximately twelve IT companies have already applied for authorisation to participate in the programme.
