Everything you need to know about the electronic Medical Practice and Institution ID card (SMC-B)
The SMC-B smart card functions as an electronic Medical Practice and Institution ID card and enables secure access to the telematics infrastructure (TI). It allows participating healthcare institutions to authenticate themselves as authorised users.Be it a medical practice, clinic, rehabilitation or preventive care facility, pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, other healthcare institution, or providers of medical aids: an SMC-B is essential for accessing the TI.
Your benefits at a glance
- Secure access to the telematics infrastructure (TI)
- Fast online application – no printing or posting of documents required
- Quick and easy handling
- Access to patient information within the TI
- Encrypted and therefore secure communication within the TI
- Fast application process and online identification with eID
One card, many applications
Tthe SMC-B plays a central role in the healthcare system. It clearly verifies the identity of the respective practice or institution and enables access to telematics infrastructure applications.
SMC-B – Smart Card for the Telematics Infrastructure
The abbreviation SMC-B stands for Security Module Card Type B. The SMC-B for doctors, dentists, and psychotherapists is called the Practice ID card. For pharmacies, hospitals, private clinics and other healthcare institutions it is called the Institution ID card. For providers of individually fitted medical devices, the SMC-B is referred to as an Organisation card.
In some sectors, it is only possible for a practice or institution to apply for an SMC-B if it can be assigned to a holder of an electronic Health Professional Card (eHBA).
The following facilities can use a practice or institution ID card to access the TI:
The SMC-B ORG variant
Healthcare organisations that are not classified as healthcare providers authenticate themselves to the telematics infrastructure using the SMC-B ORG. The SMC-B ORG cannot be used to access either the electronic health card (eGK) or data from TI specialist applications. This applies to
- cost bearers (statutory and private health insurers)
- associations of statutory health insurance physicians and statutory health insurance dentists
- professional chambers
- manufacturers and providers of TI messenger services
Issuing authorities for the SMC-B
For the Practice ID card, the associations of statutory health insurance physicians and statutory health insurance dentists (KV/KZV) in the respective federal states act as issuing authorities. The state chambers of pharmacists perform this role for pharmacies. The issuer of the institution ID card in the inpatient sector is DKTIG (Deutsche Krankenhaus TrustCenter und Informationsverarbeitung GmbH).As the joint body of the federal states, the electronic health professional register (eGBR) issues electronic Medical Practice and Institution ID cards to organisations that provide physician-prescribed therapeutic and assistive services and are neither licensed nor members of a professional chamber.Providers of medical aids that are members of a chamber apply for the SMC-B through their Chamber of Crafts.
gematik is the card issuer for the SMC-B ORG. All ID cards can be ordered via the eHealth application portal from D-Trust, a subsidiary of Bundesdruckerei. The SMC-B and SMC-B ORG smart cards are produced by the trust service provider D-Trust, a company of the Bundesdruckerei Group.
Five steps to your SMC-B
- If required, apply for a transaction number from the relevant issuing authority
- Order the SMC-B via the D-Trust eHealth application portal
- The applicant verifies their identity in person via PostIdent or online via the eID process
- Approval of the application, production, and dispatch of the card by registered post
- Activation occurs after receipt of the PIN letter, which is sent separately
Key products related to the SMC-B
Frequently Asked Questions About the SMC-B
Here we answer some of the most common questions about the SMC-B smart card.
Please note that in some sectors you can only submit the SMC-B application for your institution if it can be linked to the holder of an electronic Health Professional Card (eHBA).
Doctor’s or psychotherapist’s practices:
Doctors and psychotherapists can order their electronic Practice ID card directly in the D-Trust application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
Dental practices:
Dental practices must log in to the portal of their association of statutory health insurance dentists (KZV). From there, they are redirected to the D-Trust application portal. Dental practices receive pre-filled application forms from their responsible KZV.
Hospitals/private clinics:
Applicants from hospitals and private clinics can order their SMC-B directly via the D-Trust application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
The applicant must be authorised to represent the institution (hospital, private clinic). Proof must be provided with a document appropriate to the legal form.
Pharmacies:
Authorised applicants from pharmacies can order their SMC-B directly via the D-Trust application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
Nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, podiatry, and nutritional therapy facilities:
Applicants from nursing, midwifery, and physiotherapy facilities register with the electronic health professional register (eGBR). The applicant must be authorised to represent the organisation. Proof must be provided with a document appropriate to the legal form. Using the issued transaction number, the SMC-B can then be ordered via the D-Trust eHealth application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
Providers of medical aids:
Applicants from optical, hearing aid acoustics, orthopaedic technology, shoemaking and dental technology businesses register with their responsible Chamber of Crafts. Using their transaction number, they can then order the SMC-B via the D-Trust eHealth application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
Manufacturers/providers of digital health applications (DiGA):
Manufacturers and providers of digital health applications can order their SMC-B directly via the D-Trust application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
Private health insurers (PKV):
Private health insurers can order their SMC-B for using the telematics infrastructure directly via the D-Trust application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
Outpatient sector:
Applicants from the outpatient sector can order their electronic practice ID card directly via the D-Trust application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
The applicant must be an owner or co-owner of the practice.
Applicants in the outpatient sector include:
- emergency outpatient departments
- other hospital outpatient clinics with statutory billing authorisation
- authorised physicians
- attending physicians
- medical care centres (MVZ)
When applying, please select “Practice ID card for a medical practice”. Applications in the outpatient sector are reviewed and approved by the relevant association of statutory health insurance physicians (KV) as the card issuer.
Other healthcare organisations (SMC-B ORG):
Applicants from other healthcare organisations can order their SMC-B ORG directly via the D-Trust application portal: https://ehealth.d-trust.net/antragsportal
The cost of the ID card depends on the pricing model of the selected card provider. Reimbursement for the SMC-B is provided under the TI flat-rate payment and is already included. An overview of the funding arrangements is provided by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds.
Further information on SMC-B costs at D-Trust, a Bundesdruckerei subsidiary, can be found here.
Only one SMC-B is required per business location. This applies regardless of how many stationary card terminals are in use. If the business location has a large number of mobile card terminals and the IT department has integrated the SMC-Bs via the card terminals, several SMC-Bs are required.
The SMC-B has a maximum validity period of five years and must then be replaced with a new card. D-Trust notifies customers in good time prior to the card’s expiration date.