Switzerland

The Federal Statistics Office has published, in late December 2018, the changes regarding procedure coding that would come into force in January 2019. The changes concern CAR-T cell therapy and intervertebral arthrodesis devices, among other treatment methods. Besides the changes implemented, the list of all requested changes in 2018 was published.

Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) released changes in coverage of medical procedures, IVD tests and medical aids in Switzerland. They include extension of coverage for neonatal screening to severe congenital immunodeficiencies, extension of coverage under restrictions for TAVI, gene test for breast cancer, PET, PET / CT, local superficial hyperthermia during tumour treatment, external defibrillator and coverage for sub-urethral tapes for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. Also, changes in the coverage for neonatal screening were introduced.

On December 14, 2018, the Center of Competence and Coordination of Confederation and Cantons, Swiss eHealth, has published version 2.0 of the Swiss eHealth strategy. This version replaces the 2007 version and will be applied until 2022. With the "Swiss eHealth Strategy 2.0", the Confederation and the cantons intend to enhance the promotion of digitalization in the healthcare sector, whose priority is the introduction and dissemination of the patient's digital record.

On November 30, 2018, the DRG-regulating body in Switzerland, SwissDRG, has notified the public that the tariff version of SwissDRG 8.0/2019 has been published.

On November 15, 2018, the Swiss Federal Statistics Office (UFS) has notified the public that the CHOP version 2019 and ICD-10-GM version 2018 were published.

On 13th of November, 2018, one of the Swiss insurers’ association, curafutura, announced on their website that the new benefit structure, which will be the basis for the new fee structure in ambulatory settings, is ready. The company ats-tms SA prepared this benefit structure.

In mid-September 2018, the Swiss Federal Council has placed in consultation the first group of actions that are intended to contain costs in the healthcare sector. The suggested measures will be discussed with all relevant healthcare stakeholders (tariff partners, Cantons, industry and patient associations). These measures should save hundreds of millions of Swiss francs in the long term.

Explanation about the coding of CAR-T cell therapy in Switzerland was released by SwissDRG.

The board of directors of the entity that runs and manages the Swiss DRG system, SwissDRG SA, decided to verify the conditions necessary for the foundation of the outpatient tariff agency in late September 2018.

On the 3rd of September 2018, an association of 4 Swiss health insurers, curafutura, published their opinion on the proposed reform of payment mechanism for inpatient and outpatient services.

On 13th of August, 2018, the association of Swiss insurers, santésuisse, published an announcement in which they state that the control of the invoices received saves the premium payers’ costs up to CHF 3 billion.

On 24th of August, 2018, the company that maintains DRG system in Switzerland, SwissDRG SA, has announced that the planning version of SwissDRG (version 8.0 (2018/2019)) and the planning version of TARPSY (version 2.0 (2018/2019)) have been published.