Information about the podiatry rate

New registration of podiatry under the OKP compulsory health insurance

‍On 26.05.2021, the Federal Council passed a resolution to approve podiatrists under compulsory health insurance. This allows podiatrists who can meet the requirements as health care providers to bill for medical foot care via compulsory health insurance from January 1, 2022.

The assumption of costs by basic insurers will result in the creation of a uniform tariff system. As a result, benefit accounting is standardized. In terms of collective bargaining autonomy, the tariff for podiatry services must be reagreed by the collective bargaining partners, i.e. between podiatrists and podiatrists and insurers, in a corresponding collective agreement. This means that your medical foot care benefit statement must soon meet these requirements.

Die Organization of Podiatry Switzerland (OPS) is working together with health insurers to develop this tariff structure. Since the time period until the regulation came into force was too short to conclude a definitive collective agreement, in consultation with insurers, a Interim solution give. This is expected to take place in the course of January 2022 finalized.

‍Please note that you can only bill OKP benefits if you already have cantonal approval in accordance with the KVG and have the ZSR number of SASIS. Invoices to patients should not be issued or sent to insurers before 01.03.2022.‍

Requirements for approval as a service provider?

‍Podiatrists are approved by the competent canton if they meet the following requirements:

• You are entitled to practice as a podiatrist under cantonal law.
• You have a diploma from a higher technical school in accordance with the podiatry framework curriculum or equivalent education.
• After receiving their diploma, they worked on a practical job for two years.
• They prove that they meet the quality requirements under Art. 58g KVV.
  

Objective and purpose of the new regulation

The care of patients with diabetes mellitus with medical foot care as part of OKP and its quality should be improved and ensured. Through the approval of podiatrists as service providers, who provide medical pedicure services at the expense of OKP on medical orders, and regulation of the requirements for these services, improvements are expected through the following aspects:

• Improved access to medical foot care for relevant high-risk patients through more professionals.
• Improving the quality of care provided by particularly qualified professionals.
• Improving the quality of indications through guidelines relating to risk groups.
  

Performance requirements

Medical foot care services provided by podiatrists are only paid for patients with proven neuropathy and/or proven angiopathy. The specific foot care services to be reimbursed are listed in the KLV.

Continuing Information about this topic can be found on the website of Swiss Association of Podiatrists (SPV)