The need to revise the outdated TARMED physician tariff is undisputed. Now, however, the Federal Council has decided to postpone approval of TARDOC. A procedure that the tariff partners curafutura, FMH and MTK see as a missed opportunity for the introduction of an appropriate tariff that corresponds to the current technical realities of outpatient medicine.
TARMED has been in force since 2004, which means that medical services are increasingly being remunerated in an unbalanced and outdated manner. This disadvantages patients because some services are overpriced while others are underpaid and no longer cover costs. Important services, for example in the area of primary care or psychiatry, continue to be inappropriately mapped and the further development of interprofessionalism is hampered. Medical services must be reflected in the tariff in a balanced and appropriate manner, as also required by the Health Insurance Act. This is the only way to ensure good, high-quality patient care. The decision of the Federal Council to postpone the approval is therefore met with incomprehension. The tariff partners curafutura, FMH and MTK will now analyze the decision of the Federal Council to determine to what extent the demands for adjustments to the TARDOC are at all appropriate and feasible, since this fulfills the legal criteria in its current version. The TARDOC is backed by the FMH, the majority of service providers and the majority of insured persons. Meanwhile, children’s hospitals are also calling for the rapid implementation of TARDOC. The concept of cost-neutral introduction of the TARDOC ensures that no additional costs are incurred as a result of the tariff change from TARMED to TARDOC. Therefore, the tariff partners clearly disagree with the Federal Council on the important criteria.
The further planned procedure comprises three steps:
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The BR call will be implemented by the end of 2021. We will make what is feasible by the end of 2021 possible. We will then realize what is not feasible by the end of 2021. However, we are not doing this alone, but – as the BR wants – with the personal support of the Minister of Health and together with the other collective bargaining partners. We call on H+ and Santésuisse, with the help of the tariff office ats-tms as a hub, to start cooperation materially and formally.
- A new, national tariff organization will be created, analogous to the demand of BR Berset. The TARDOC is set as a single service tariff with entry into force on 1.1.2023.
- The other collective bargaining partners are called upon to implement their promises.
We expect a proposal on flat rates by August 20, 2021, which is appropriate in terms of maturity and in line with the TARDOC maturity level, so that they can be submitted with all concepts and contracts at the end of 2021 and also be put into effect on January 1, 2023.
Source: “Physician tariff: Decision of the Federal Council is incomprehensible and not comprehensible”, 01.07.2021, FMH
InFo NEUROLOGY & PSYCHIATRY 2021; 19(4): 36 (published 8/23-21, ahead of print).
