Tarif 590 and the reimbursement slip, explained simply

Tarif 590 is the Switzerland-wide tariff for billing complementary medicine, such as naturopathy, TCM, acupuncture, osteopathy, homeopathy or craniosacral therapy. These services are reimbursed, if at all, by your clients' supplementary insurance.

The tariff and its invoice standard apply whether or not you belong to an association or are registered. Since 1 January 2022 the invoice standard requires professional billing software. The tariff is usually updated each year on 1 January.

Tariff codes are defined in 5-minute units: a quantity of 1 equals 5 minutes. The total treatment time may only be rounded up once per appointment.

To convert your hourly rate, divide it by 12 to get the price per 5 minutes. You set the price of each line yourself, so a 90-minute treatment may be proportionally cheaper than a 60-minute one.

Code 1200 covers the case history and general examinations. Services not listed in tarif 590 are billed under tarif 999 with your own text. You may not change the official names of the tariff codes.

Every invoice states a reason for treatment: illness, accident, prevention or pregnancy. "Unknown" usually leads to rejection. Each therapist issues a separate invoice per client, using their own personal ZSR number.

Important for online sessions: tarif 590 codes are in principle only for treatments in person. Treatments without physical presence, such as by video call, belong under tarif 999, and insurers usually don't contribute to them.

The reimbursement slip (Rückforderungsbeleg) is the copy of the invoice for the insurer. Usually your client pays the invoice and sends the slip to their supplementary insurance.

It shows, among other things, you as the provider with your GLN and ZSR number, your client, the date, the tariff codes with duration and amount, and the reason for treatment. If you are registered for VAT, it is included in each line's price and summarised on the slip.

Whether and how much the insurer reimburses is up to the insurer. Using the tariff is no guarantee of reimbursement.

You issue the tarif 590 invoice and reimbursement slip with billing software that supports the current invoice standard. Zitli doesn't replace that software; it takes care of everything around the appointment.

Your clients book online and get a confirmation and reminder by email. If you like, they pay a deposit at booking with TWINT or by card, and your canton's public holidays are blocked from the start. For clients without supplementary insurance, Zitli creates a QR-bill after the appointment.

FAQ on tarif 590 and the invoice standard for complementary medicine, published by the insurers' team and the professional organisations of the complementary medicine working group, version 06.2026 (in German). For questions about individual tariff codes, your professional association can help.