Telemedicine and the Lifting of Face-to-Face Treatment Restrictions
Prior to the Digital Act, German medical law emphasized "face-to-face" interaction as the absolute priority. As of 2026, these restrictions have been eased to make Telemedicine an integral part of standard care.
Video consultations (Videosprechstunden) are now widely available across almost all medical specialties. The law has removed the strict "caps" on how many telemedical consultations a practice can perform, allowing for specialized "tele-clinics" to operate. This is particularly vital in rural regions of Germany where the distance to a specialist can be significant. Furthermore, telemedicine is now reimbursed at rates comparable to in-person visits, incentivizing doctors to offer digital options for follow-up appointments and chronic disease monitoring.