By Anne T. T. · Published April 12, 2026 · 7 min read
The Tarif 590 2026 underwent several changes that came into effect on January 1, 2026. Suppressed positions, code mergers, strengthened technical requirements: these changes directly affect the daily billing of ASCA and RME therapists in Switzerland. This article reviews the Tarif 590 updates for 2026, what remains unchanged, and how to adapt your practice to avoid invoice rejections.
The OdA KT (Organisation of the Working World Complementary Therapy) and OdA AM (Organisation of the Working World Alternative Medicine) published an update to the tariff position catalogue. Two types of changes should be noted: suppressions and mergers.
Two tariff codes have been permanently removed from the catalogue:
| Code | Designation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1027 | Bioresonance (Bioresonanztherapie) | Discipline removed from OdA AM catalogue (ch. 5.4) |
| 1141 | Dorn/Breuss Therapy | Discipline removed from OdA AM catalogue (ch. 5.4) |
Important: any invoice issued after December 31, 2025 with codes 1027 or 1141 will be automatically rejected by supplementary insurance companies. Therapists who practised these disciplines under ASCA or RME recognition should contact their certification body to clarify their situation.
Three codes that each had their own position have been absorbed into code 1004 — Acupuncture:
| Former code | Former designation | New code |
|---|---|---|
| 1064 | Laser acupuncture (Laser-Akupunktur) | 1004 |
| 1071 | Moxibustion | 1004 |
| 1077 | Auriculotherapy (Ohrakupunktur) | 1004 |
Code 1004 now covers: classical acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, laser acupuncture, moxibustion and auriculotherapy. Its official designation becomes "Acupuncture (incl. electro, laser, moxa, auricular)". If you previously billed under codes 1064, 1071 or 1077, you must now bill under code 1004. The former codes have been invalid since January 1, 2026.
Contrary to what some therapists hoped, the 2026 update introduced no new tariff codes. The total number of active positions in the catalogue has therefore decreased by 5 (2 suppressions + 3 mergers).
Despite these changes, the fundamental structure of Tarif 590 remains identical:
The most commonly used codes — 1062 (classic massage), 1085 (phytotherapy), 1052 (foot reflexology), 1203 (osteopathy), 1060 (kinesiology), 1100 (shiatsu), 1102 (sophrology) — have undergone no changes. For a complete overview of active codes, see our complete Tarif 590 guide.
The Tarif 590 updates of January 2026 have a direct impact on billing tools. If your software has not integrated these changes, you risk two problems:
Automatic rejections: supplementary insurance companies validate codes via the DataMatrix. A suppressed code (1027, 1141) or a former merged code (1064, 1071, 1077) will trigger a rejection without human review.
Mapping errors: some software allows manual code entry. If the proposed list still contains the former codes, the therapist may select them out of habit and generate an invalid invoice.
What to check in your software:
Therago integrated these changes as soon as the new catalogue was published. Suppressed positions are flagged in the system and can no longer be selected. To learn how to avoid common billing errors, see our article on 5 mistakes that get your Tarif 590 invoices rejected.
Tarif 590 has undergone several major changes in recent years:
| Year | Change |
|---|---|
| 2022 | End of PDF billing: insurance companies now require electronic format with DataMatrix |
| 2023 | DataMatrix mandatory on all invoices (ISO/IEC 16022 standard, 127 bytes) |
| 2024 | Catalogue consolidation: designation clarifications, first wave of rationalisations |
| 2025 | Preparation of 2026 mergers, OdA KT and OdA AM communications to certification bodies |
| 2026 | Suppression of codes 1027 and 1141; merger of codes 1064, 1071 and 1077 into code 1004 |
The trend is clear: OdA KT and OdA AM are progressively simplifying the catalogue by grouping related disciplines under generic codes and removing those that no longer meet recognition criteria.
The umbrella organisations have not yet announced changes for January 1, 2027, but the consolidation trend suggests possible new mergers or suppressions. Here is what you can do now:
Are invoices issued before 2026 with codes 1027 or 1141 still valid?
Yes. Invoices issued before January 1, 2026 with these codes remain valid. The suppression only applies to invoices with a treatment date after December 31, 2025. If a patient submits an old invoice to their insurance, it will be processed normally.
I practised moxibustion under code 1071. What should I do?
You must now bill under code 1004 (Acupuncture). Moxibustion has been integrated into this code since January 1, 2026. No action is needed with your insurer or certification body if you were already recognised for this discipline — the change is purely tariff-related.
My software still shows the former codes. Is there a risk?
Yes, a real risk. If you issue an invoice with a suppressed or merged code, it will be rejected by the supplementary insurance company. Contact your software provider to request a catalogue update, or switch to software that automatically integrates tariff changes.
Are there other changes planned for 2026?
No other catalogue changes are planned for the rest of 2026. Tariff updates are generally applied on January 1. Watch for OdA KT publications from autumn 2026 for any announcements regarding 2027.
The Tarif 590 changes on January 1, 2026 are targeted but consequential for the therapists concerned. Two suppressed codes (1027, 1141), three codes merged into 1004 (1064, 1071, 1077), and zero new positions. The trend is towards catalogue simplification.
If you use Therago, these changes are already integrated: obsolete codes are deactivated, code 1004 displays its complete designation, and the DataMatrix automatically generates the correct references. Try Therago for free and bill in compliance from your very first session.
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