Executive Summary

The Federal Department of the Interior (EDI) decided on June 11, 2026 on amendments to the Health Care Services Ordinance (KLV) that will come into force on July 1, 2026. The main measures are: reduction of tariffs for laboratory analyses, reduction of rental compensation for CPAP devices for sleep apnea treatment, and the expansion of pharmacy competencies. From January 1, 2027, pharmacists will be permitted to administer prophylactic vaccinations at the expense of mandatory health insurance (OKP). The measures are part of the cost containment package of Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider.

Persons

Topics

  • Health care costs and cost containment
  • Mandatory health insurance (OKP)
  • Laboratory services and tariff adjustments
  • Pharmacy competencies and vaccinations
  • Sleep apnea treatment

Clarus Lead

The tariff reductions address a central cost problem: laboratories previously received "fees for service" in addition to their analysis tariffs. This double compensation is being eliminated – a structural signal to curb incentive distortions in the health care system. Simultaneously, the pharmacy reform signals decentralized health policy: rather than positioning doctors as sole vaccination gatekeepers, primary care is being broadened and made more accessible – a strategy intended to increase vaccination rates without overburdening ambulatory sector capacities.

Detailed Summary

The laboratory adjustments resulted from the "Round Table" on cost containment and follow a data analysis: the Association of Medical Laboratories in Switzerland (FAMH) and insurers agreed that "fees for service" will be discontinued from July 1, 2026 – a practice that doctors received for laboratory orders. In parallel, the "order fee" is being reduced by 5 francs and the ten highest-revenue analysis items are being cut. This combination saves OKP approximately 85 million francs annually.

For CPAP devices (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), health insurance data showed that actual therapy duration is longer than previously calculated. Rental compensation therefore decreases from 1.50 to 1.36 francs per day – an adjustment that saves approximately 7 million francs annually.

The pharmacy reform is based on the Cost Containment Package 2 and expands OKP coverage to prophylactic vaccinations by pharmacists from January 1, 2027. OKP covers vaccination and consultation costs. This is intended to increase vaccination rates against influenza and tick-borne encephalitis (FSME) and prevent severe disease progression.

Key Points

  • Laboratory analysis tariffs decrease through elimination of "fees for service" and reduction of the ten highest-revenue items (savings: 85 million CHF/year)
  • CPAP rental compensation reduced based on new therapy duration data (7 million CHF/year)
  • Pharmacies gain competencies for prophylactic vaccinations with OKP cost coverage from January 2027

Critical Questions

  1. Laboratory Data Quality: Is the tariff reduction of the ten highest-revenue items based on cost analyses or market data? Which laboratories are affected and how was equivalence between "fees for service" elimination and order fee reduction validated?

  2. CPAP Therapy Duration Evidence: What dataset is the recalculation of therapy duration based on? Does therapy duration differ by patient groups (age, severity), and was this considered in the calculation?

  3. Pharmacy Vaccinations – Implementation Risks: What quality standards (training, inventory management, cold chain) are planned for pharmacies? Is there a conflict of interest between vaccine sales and consultation?

  4. Vaccination Rate Effect – Causality: Will the effectiveness of the pharmacy reform on vaccination rates be measured, or is an increase assumed? Are there data from other countries with similar models?

  5. Cost Shifting: Do laboratory reductions lead to avoidance reactions (more analyses, higher patient co-payments)? Are savings offset by other service expansions?

  6. CPAP Implementation Timeline: The adjustment takes effect July 1, 2026 – is a transition period planned for rental contracts based on old calculations?

Source Index

Primary Source: Health Care Services Ordinance: Tariff Adjustments and Pharmacy Competencies – news.admin.ch, 11.06.2026

Verification Status: ✓ 11.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 11.06.2026