Telephone sick notes are no longer possible – at least for the time being

Created: 06/03/2022Updated: 06/03/2022 10:16 am

By: Anne Hund

Since June 1st, it is no longer generally possible to take sick leave by telephone.

© Jens Büttner/dpa

In view of the more relaxed corona situation, sick leave due to cold symptoms is no longer generally possible by telephone for the time being. 

Since the end of March 2020, it has been possible to

almost continuously

for

But the special Corona regulation, which has been extended several times, is expiring.

"From June 1, 2022, it will no longer be possible to take sick leave by telephone," said the Federal Joint Committee of Doctors, Clinics and Health Insurance Companies on May 30.

For this, patients would have to “go back to the

Come to the doctor’s office or use the video consultation hours”.

Sick leave is no longer generally possible by telephone for the time being

At the same time, the committee emphasized: "Should the corona pandemic pick up speed again in the coming months, the Federal Joint Committee can reactivate its special regulations in relation to its regular guideline provisions for certain regions or, if necessary, nationwide."

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Sick leave from the doctor via video consultation

Regardless of the Corona special regulations

According to the notification mentioned, insured persons can receive sick leave due to a video consultation.

The prerequisite is “that the illness allows this, i.e. no immediate physical examination is necessary to clarify the inability to work”.

The statement from the Federal Joint Committee also states: “If the inability to work is determined in a video consultation, the following applies: For insured persons who are previously unknown in the doctor’s office, sick leave can be issued for up to three calendar days;

for insured persons who are known in the doctor’s office, for up to seven calendar days.” Follow-up sick leave via video consultation is only permissible “if the previous sick note was issued after an immediate personal examination”.