What has applied since 1 July 2025
Since 1 July 2025, two groups of office-based specialists in Austria have been required to store reports in ELGA, the national electronic health record. The legal basis is the Health Telematics Adjustment Regulation 2025 (Federal Law Gazette II No. 11/2025, in German), which amends the ELGA Regulation 2015. The Ministry of Health announced the expansion in January 2025 (in German).
The obligation covers:
- self-employed specialists in medical and chemical laboratory diagnostics and in clinical microbiology and hygiene, who store laboratory reports,
- self-employed specialists in radiology, who store imaging reports.
According to the regulation, it also applies in group practices and to doctors employed there.
Exemptions
- Doctors with a health insurance contract (not group practices) whose contract ends because of the age limit within four years – according to the Austrian Medical Chamber, by 30 June 2029 – are exempt.
- Private doctors without a health insurance contract (Wahlärzte) are, according to the Medical Chamber, only obliged from 1 January 2026, unless storage would mean a disproportionate burden for them (section 49(7) of the Physicians Act).
If you are unsure whether an exemption applies to you, check with your regional medical chamber.
What about the images?
This caused some confusion. The ministry initially spoke of reports “and the associated images”. According to the ministry’s answers published in June 2025 (in German), the report is mandatory. Image data only has to be stored in ELGA to the extent that the radiologist considers necessary (section 13(4) of the Health Telematics Act 2012). Patients who do not take part in ELGA must, according to a Medical Chamber circular from June 2025 (in German), receive the images another way, for example as a printout or via a secure cloud.
What comes next
- Hospitals (publicly funded hospitals, private hospitals under PRIKRAF and AUVA hospitals) already store lab and radiology reports from outpatient treatment; from 1 January 2026 this extends to inpatient and telemedicine treatment.
- Pathology reports follow from 1 January 2028, and other specialist reports from outpatient treatment from 1 January 2030.
For all other practices, the main change for now is that your patients’ lab and radiology reports will increasingly be available in ELGA.
What practices need technically
The regulation requires the technical prerequisites to be in place by 1 January 2026 at the latest. If that is not possible, the obligation is also met where an implementation date no later than 31 December 2028 has been expressly agreed in a contract with the software provider.
Practice software: your laboratory or radiology system must produce reports in the ELGA format (HL7 CDA at the “EIS Full Support” level). Ask your vendor in writing when this will be supported and get the date confirmed.
Connection to an ELGA domain: this is the most common misunderstanding. According to the ELGA GmbH guide for laboratory medicine (in German), the e-card system (GINO) can only read e-reports, not write them. To store reports you need a connection to an ELGA domain (“ELGA-Bereich”) with a document repository. Your practice must also be listed as “active” in the healthcare provider index; for group practices and outpatient clinics, the OID must additionally be linked to the contract partner number.
Network and bandwidth: ELGA is only reachable via secured health networks such as GIN. For radiology practices, uploading image data adds to the load – so the upload speed of your line matters, not just the download. ELGA GmbH also recommends a backup line (for example via mobile) and an uninterruptible power supply. More on network and connectivity.
Data protection and backup: health data enjoys special protection. ELGA does not replace your own records – these must still be kept for at least ten years (section 51 of the Physicians Act). A working backup and a secured practice network remain essential.
What changes in day-to-day work
- Notice: once the obligation applies, patients must be informed of their ELGA rights by a clearly visible notice in the reception area (labs without patient contact are exempt, according to ELGA GmbH).
- Case-by-case opt-out: patients can object to storage for an individual case – for lab work always for the whole report, not individual values. If the sample is taken by the referring doctor, you need a way for that objection to reach the lab, such as a note on the referral.
- Staff: reception and reporting staff need to know how to record an objection and what to do if sending a report fails.
According to the Medical Chamber, failing to store data as required can lead to administrative penalties and disciplinary consequences.
Checklist for labs and radiology practices
- Confirm with the Medical Chamber whether you are affected and whether an exemption applies
- Software vendor: get the “EIS Full Support” date confirmed in writing (contract by 1 January 2026 at the latest)
- Arrange a connection to an ELGA domain and check your provider index entry
- Check your line: upload bandwidth for images, backup line, UPS
- Put up the notice and agree an opt-out process with referring doctors
- Train your team and review the backup of your own records
How IT United can help
We support medical and group practices in Vienna and review your network, line, e-card connection and backup with you. Working with your software provider, we make sure the technology for ELGA runs reliably in everyday practice. More on our services for medical practices.
Affected by the storage obligation or planning the switch? Book a free initial consultation and we will look at your situation together.
