Teleconsultation has now become part of everyday life for many practices in Switzerland. It makes it possible to follow up with patients remotely, avoid certain trips and offer more flexible care.
But one question often comes up: how can you correctly bill a video consultation in Switzerland?
The answer depends on the type of healthcare professional:
- Since January 2026, TARDOC applies to most doctors. However, for general practitioners, specific positions apply.
- Therapists use Tariff 590, particularly in the context of supplementary insurance.
- Physiotherapists must take into account the rules applicable to their profession and insurance coverage.
In this article, we guide you profession by profession so that you can quickly identify the section that concerns you.
Overview: which tariff should be used to bill a video consultation?
The billing of a teleconsultation mainly depends on your profession and the coverage framework.
|
Generally applicable tariff | What to remember | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors | TARDOC | Since 2026, TARDOC provides specific positions for telemedical medical services | |
| General practitioners | TARDOC, family medicine chapter | Certain specific positions apply to telemedical family medicine services | |
| Therapists | Tariff 590 | Remote consultations can be billed according to the rules of Tariff 590, depending on the recognized method and the conditions of the supplementary insurance> | |
| Physiotherapists | Tariff applicable to physiotherapy | Coverage depends on the therapeutic framework, the prescription, the insurance and the conditions applicable to the remote service |
1. How can you bill a video consultation as a doctor?
For doctors, medical teleconsultations are billed according to the TARDOC positions provided for telemedical services. These services can be found in particular in the subchapter AA.10 – Basic telemedical medical services.
They cover consultations, advice, assessments and medical exchanges carried out remotely, for example by video or telephone.
Synchronous or asynchronous teleconsultation: what is the difference?
TARDOC mainly distinguishes between two types of telemedical services:
- Synchronous telemedical consultation: the doctor and the patient communicate at the same time, for example during a video or telephone consultation.
- Asynchronous telemedical consultation: the exchange does not take place in real time, for example when a document is sent to the doctor and a medical assessment is communicated later.
For a standard video consultation, this is therefore generally a synchronous telemedical consultation.
Main TARDOC positions for doctors
| TARDOC position | Description | When should it be used? |
|---|---|---|
| AA.10.0010 | Synchronous telemedical medical consultation, first 5 minutes | For a real-time remote medical consultation, by telephone or video |
| AA.10.0020 | Surcharge: synchronous telemedical medical consultation, each additional minute | To extend a synchronous teleconsultation beyond the first 5 minutes |
| AA.10.0030 | Asynchronous telemedical medical consultation | For an individual medical exchange without simultaneous contact, for example a written medical response or the assessment of a document submitted by the patient |
Example: 12-minute video consultation
For a 12-minute video consultation with a patient, the billing may typically consist of:
- AA.10.0010 for the first 5 minutes
- AA.10.0020 for the 7 additional minutes
The exact duration must be entered in accordance with the applicable tariff rules and documented in the patient file.
Billing conditions for doctors
For a video consultation to be billable, several conditions must be met:
- The teleconsultation must correspond to an actual medical service
- It must justifiably replace or complement medical care
- Contact with the patient must be documented
- The duration of the consultation must be entered correctly
- The patient must be informed that the service is chargeable
- Billing must comply with TARDOC rules, accumulation rules and the EAE criteria: effectiveness, appropriateness and cost-effectiveness
Practical steps to bill a medical video consultation
In practice, here are the steps to follow:
- Identify the TARDOC position suitable for the service
- Check whether the consultation is a synchronous or asynchronous telemedical service
- Enter the exact duration of the consultation
- Check any accumulation rules or limitations
- Document the content of the consultation in the patient file
- Issue the invoice via the practice software
- Send the invoice to the patient or to the health insurance provider, depending on the applicable model
Follow up with your patients remotely
2. How can you bill a video consultation as a general practitioner?
General practitioners must also use TARDOC, but certain telemedical family medicine services have specific positions.
These positions can be found in particular in chapter CA, dedicated to family medicine.
TARDOC positions for family medicine
| TARDOC position | Description | When should it be used? |
|---|---|---|
| CA.05.0010 | Synchronous telemedical family medicine consultation, first 5 minutes | For real-time remote consultations relating to family medicine |
| CA.05.0020 | Surcharge: synchronous telemedical family medicine consultation, each additional minute | To extend the consultation beyond the first 5 minutes |
| CA.05.0030 | Asynchronous telemedical family medicine consultation | For certain individual medical exchanges that are not simultaneous |
What general practitioners need to check
Before billing a video consultation, general practitioners need to check:
- Whether the service does indeed fall under family medicine
- Which TARDOC position applies
- Whether the consultation is synchronous or asynchronous
- Which accumulation rules apply
- Whether their practice software properly includes the up-to-date TARDOC positions
Documentation in the patient file remains essential. As with an in-practice consultation, it must be possible to justify the content of the service, its duration and its medical indication.
3. How can you bill a video consultation as a therapist?
Therapists, particularly in complementary medicine, generally bill their services via Tariff 590.
Tariff 590 can apply to remote consultations, provided that the method practiced is recognized, that the service is documented and that the patient’s supplementary insurance accepts coverage.
Tariff 590 and teleconsultation: what you need to know
Tariff 590 is used to structure and transmit the services of many therapists in Switzerland. For video consultations, the same principles as for in-person sessions generally apply:
- The method must be recognized
- The service must be clearly documented
- The duration must be indicated correctly
- The patient must be informed about the reimbursement conditions
- Coverage depends on their supplementary insurance
Supplementary insurance providers do not cover all methods or all forms of remote consultation. Before offering video consultations, it is therefore recommended to clarify the conditions directly with the insurance providers concerned.
Practical steps to bill a video consultation with Tariff 590
To bill a video consultation as a therapist:
- Check that your method is recognized by the patient’s supplementary insurance
- Clarify whether the video consultation is accepted within the framework of this method
- Conduct the session via a secure solution
- Document the session in the patient file
- Enter the service with the appropriate Tariff 590 position
- Issue the invoice according to the required format
- Inform the patient that reimbursement depends on their supplementary insurance
Tip: before rolling out teleconsultations more broadly, check with the supplementary insurance providers most commonly used by your patients.
4. How can you bill a video consultation as a physiotherapist?
Physiotherapists may also offer remote consultations or follow-ups, for example for advice, exercises, therapeutic support or follow-up between two sessions.
However, billing depends on the framework of the service, any prescription, the rules applicable to physiotherapy and the coverage conditions of the insurance provider concerned.
What physiotherapists need to check
Before billing a video consultation, it is important to check:
- Whether the remote service is permitted within the relevant therapeutic framework
- Whether a medical prescription is required
- Whether the insurance provider covers this type of service
- Which tariff position should be used
- How the duration and content of the session must be documented
As with the other professions, documentation is essential. The file must indicate what was carried out, why the video consultation was indicated, how long it lasted and which recommendations were given to the patient.
Practical steps to bill a video consultation in physiotherapy
To bill a video consultation as a physiotherapist:
- Check the patient’s coverage framework
- Confirm whether the video consultation is accepted by the insurance provider
- Use a secure video solution suitable for health data
- Document the session precisely
- Select the applicable tariff position
- Issue the invoice via your billing software
- Keep the necessary information in case supporting evidence is requested
Legal framework and data protection
There is no specific law on telemedicine in Switzerland. The general rules relating to the medical field and healthcare professionals therefore also apply to video consultations.
This includes in particular:
- The duty of care
- The documentation obligation
- The duty to inform the patient
- The protection of health data
- The use of secure and suitable tools
When health data is processed via a digital solution, the professional remains responsible for its protection. It is therefore recommended to use a secure solution that complies with Swiss data protection requirements and is suitable for medical or therapeutic exchanges.
Did you know?
The OneDoc teleconsultation module is fully hosted in Switzerland, complies with the revised FADP and is ISO 27001 certified.
Conclusion: billing differs depending on your profession
The billing of a video consultation in Switzerland depends on your activity.
Doctors have used TARDOC since 2026, with specific positions for telemedical services. General practitioners must in particular check the family medicine positions. Therapists bill according to Tariff 590 when the method and supplementary insurance allow it. Physiotherapists must check the rules applicable to their care framework and to the patient’s insurance.
In all cases, three elements remain essential: choosing the right tariff position, properly documenting the service and using a secure solution for video consultations.
Feel free to contact our team to learn more about teleconsultations, billing and OneDoc solutions for your practice.
