Hand eczema and statutory accident insurance-what you should know for your practice

Abstract

Since January1, 2021, recognition of occupational hand eczema as an occupational disease (OD) No. 5101 has been made significantly easier by eliminating the obligation to cease and desist work in the eczema-eliciting job. As aresult of this change in OD law, an occupational disease can now also be recognized if the patient continues the (eczema-eliciting) work. This results in asignificantly higher liability for accident insurance companies to enable high-quality care for affected patients by the dermatologist-and this, if necessary, in the long term until retirement. The number of recognized OD No. 5101cases has already increased tenfold (around 4000cases per year). Work-related hand eczema must be treated as quickly as possible in order to avoid aprotracted course of the disease and job loss. Accordingly, those affected should be reported quickly to the accident insurance (dermatologist's report and/or OD notification). After the notification, in addition to the granting of outpatient treatment, the reporting dermatologist has an extensive range of preventive measures available (including skin protection seminars and inpatient treatment). In addition, there are no prescription fees and even basic skin care can be prescribed ("basic therapy"). The extra-budgetary care of hand eczema as arecognized occupational disease is associated with many advantages for the dermatologist's practice and the patient.