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We describe the results of a survey of claim forms that are used when starting rehabilitation following inpatient treatment and of an evaluation of a claim form developed on the basis of the results. The survey of different existing forms shows a high overlapping in content, suggesting the possibility of unification to one claim form that can be accepted by all insurers. In analogy to the Delphi method criteria for evaluation were consented and applied by the author group to assess the relevance of the claim forms content items for the process of initiating rehabilitation. A group of further experts added their evaluations. We prioritised the results and extracted the essential contents to conceive a unified claim form eligible for all types of rehabilitation. The claim form was discussed in 3 focus groups, revised accordingly and tested in the Hannover Medical School. Test results show that all relevant information is asked for and that the form is well manageable. The users' request for an IT-based solution and further ideas for improvement were integrated into the revised and validated version of the claim form. It is now available for all stake holders, in particular for insurers, as a means to improve quality of care and efficiency by standardisation of rehabilitation claim forms., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Many different claim forms are used when starting rehabilitation following inpatient treatment, resulting in high administrative overheads for hospital staff, financial institutions and government agencies as well as patient allocation inefficiencies. We describe the problems ensuing on multiple and incompatible claim forms. On the basis of a survey of extant forms, we describe the content of a unified claim form that can be accepted by all insurers and which is optimised for hospital use. A model procedure for the development of a nationwide unified claim form allows for the assessment of the task's complexity and duration. Nevertheless, quality of care and efficiency considerations support a recommendation of standardisation of rehabilitation claim forms. On this basis the authors appeal to all relevant health-care players to enter into the enterprise of standardisation and to pursue this goal consistently., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)