From January 2026, TARMED will be replaced by TARDOC, the new Swiss medical tariff. This long-awaited reform aims to address criticisms of the old system and provide a more modern, transparent and fair framework. Here is what you need to know to prepare your practice for this change.
Why is TARDOC replacing TARMED?
TARMED, introduced in 2004, no longer reflects the reality of current medical practice. Too rigid and considered outdated, it fails to represent both the evolution of care and technological innovations. According to FMH (2023), its limitations include:
- Undervaluation of long and complex consultations
- A mismatch between actual costs and reimbursed tariffs
- A lack of flexibility to integrate emerging practices such as teleconsultation
Concrete example: today, a teleconsultation is still billed as a simple phone consultation — which does not reflect the reality of the medical service provided.
TARDOC was designed to:
- better value medical services
- reduce disparities between specialties
- and offer a financial framework more consistent with current practice costs
Implementation of TARDOC: official timeline
The rollout of TARDOC will take place in 3 main stages:
- March to September 2025: training of medical and administrative staff, software adaptation in practices and hospitals
- October to December 2025: pilot phase with volunteer practices to test tools and fix potential issues
- January 2026: full implementation of TARDOC across Switzerland (Source: FOPH, 2024)
What changes can be expected with TARDOC?
The impact of TARDOC will vary depending on the specialty:
- General practice: better valuation of longer consultations, particularly important for chronic patient follow-up
- Radiology: revised tariffs for certain costly exams (MRI, CT scan, interventional imaging). Adjustments will be needed to cover technological costs.
- Surgery: rebalanced tariffs. Some common procedures may be reduced (e.g. orthopaedics), while complex or innovative acts will be better valued.
Modernise your practice
What does TARDOC mean for medical practices?
The transition to TARDOC will require active preparation:
- Software updates: adapting management and billing systems to include the new codes.
- Financial analysis: simulating the impact of TARDOC on your revenues to anticipate necessary adjustments.
- Staff training: practical sessions to avoid coding errors and ensure a smooth transition.
- Proactive communication: explaining potential tariff changes to your patients to avoid misunderstandings.
By anticipating these actions as early as 2025, your practices can adopt TARDOC more smoothly and minimise risks of financial or organisational disruption.
TARDOC 2026 marks a turning point in medical billing in Switzerland. More transparent and adapted to modern practice, it aims to ensure better recognition of medical services. For practices, the key is to anticipate the organisational and financial impacts from 2025, to approach this reform with confidence.
External resources related to TARDOC 2026
a. Information about TARDOC
- FMH – TARDOC and outpatient packages – information platform
- OTMA – Organisation for outpatient medical tariffs
