🏥 Discharge management in hospital

Discharge management helps with the transition from hospital to further care. It may take place only with your consent.

discharge management 39 SGB V hospital discharge medication incapacity for work follow-up care

In brief

Before discharge, the hospital should prepare further care. This is called discharge management.

It may take place only with your consent. You must be informed beforehand.

The hospital can prescribe medication in the smallest pack size (N1), that is, one pack. For home nursing care, therapeutic and assistive aids, sociotherapy and certification of incapacity for work, a limit of up to seven days applies.

Before discharge, ask what you will need at home.

Step by step

Raise it earlyRaise discharge management already on admission.
State your needsSay what you need at home, for example care or aids.
Take documents with youAsk for the discharge letter and prescriptions.
If there are problemsContact your health insurer.

Deadlines

1 pack (N1)

Prescription of medicines by the hospital: one pack with the smallest pack size designation; no seven-day rule§ 39 Abs. 1a SGB V

up to 7 days

Prescription of home nursing care, therapeutic and assistive aids and sociotherapy (services under § 92 Abs. 1 Satz 2 Nr. 6 SGB V) as well as certification of incapacity for work by the hospital§ 39 Abs. 1a SGB V

Watch out – common mistakes

You can object to discharge management; it requires your consent.
Follow-up care (rehabilitation, nursing care) has its own applications and deadlines; they are not covered here.
Check prescriptions and certificates before discharge.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Content (§ 39 Abs. 1a SGB V)

Hospital treatment includes discharge management to support cross-sector care of insured persons in the transition to care after hospital treatment. Discharge management covers all necessary services, among others under §§ 37b, 38, 39c as well as services under the Eleventh Book (long-term care insurance).

Prescriptions

The hospital can prescribe medicines, namely one pack with the smallest pack size designation (N1); the seven-day limit does not apply to this. The seven-day limit applies to the other services under § 92 Abs. 1 Satz 2 Nr. 6 SGB V (home nursing care, therapeutic and assistive aids, sociotherapy) as well as to the certification of incapacity for work; they can be prescribed to the extent necessary for care immediately after discharge.

Consent

Discharge management may take place only with the insured person's consent and after prior information. Consent must be given in writing or electronically. The framework agreement of the self-governing bodies and details of implementation were not examined.

Who is responsible

Hospital (social service; not examined in detail)
Your health insurer
Stiftung Unabhängige Patientenberatung Deutschland (independent patient advice foundation)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Discharge management in hospital“?

Discharge management helps with the transition from hospital to further care. It may take place only with your consent.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

1 pack (N1): Prescription of medicines by the hospital: one pack with the smallest pack size designation; no seven-day rule (§ 39 Abs. 1a SGB V)
up to 7 days: Prescription of home nursing care, therapeutic and assistive aids and sociotherapy (services under § 92 Abs. 1 Satz 2 Nr. 6 SGB V) as well as certification of incapacity for work by the hospital (§ 39 Abs. 1a SGB V)

What should I do first?

Raise it early: Raise discharge management already on admission.
State your needs: Say what you need at home, for example care or aids.
Take documents with you: Ask for the discharge letter and prescriptions.

What do I need to watch out for?

You can object to discharge management; it requires your consent.
Follow-up care (rehabilitation, nursing care) has its own applications and deadlines; they are not covered here.
Check prescriptions and certificates before discharge.

Evidence

Gesetze im Internet, SGB V § 39, retrieved 20 September 2026
Gesetze im Internet, BGB § 630c, retrieved 20 September 2026

As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

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