Since July 1, 2026, mandatory health insurance (LAMal) has, for the first time, reimbursed preventive physiotherapy services. Specifically, fall risk assessment and coordination for older adults are now included in the list of covered services. Here's what this means for your practice.
A turning point for the profession
Until now, physiotherapy reimbursed by the Swiss Health Insurance Act (LAMal) was limited to treatment. With the amendment to Article 5 of the Ordinance on Health Insurance Benefits (OPAS), which came into force on July 1, 2026, structured fall prevention becomes a clearly defined service, established at the national level, and with regulated remuneration. This is the official recognition of a role that physiotherapists have long played in the field: identifying at-risk patients before an accident, not after. physioswiss
The Federal Council's decision to include fall risk assessment in the Ordinance on Health and Social Care (OPAS) dates back to 2025 and represents a major step for prevention in the Swiss healthcare system. For an aging population, the stakes are considerable: every fall avoided means one less hospitalization, fracture, or loss of independence. physioswiss
Note: This service is covered by health insurance (LAMal), not accident insurance (LAA). The reasoning is simple: prevention occurs before any accident, therefore there are no LAA cases to bill.
What the new benefit covers
Three missions now fall to physiotherapists in this context:
- Screening : systematically identifying people at increased risk of falling
- Intervene : propose evidence-based care.
- Evaluate : monitor and document the progress of the therapy
Two reference concepts
Reimbursement is not left to methodological discretion: the benefit is linked to specific concepts, namely the Parachutes program and the Swiss League Against Rheumatism concept. physioswiss
Important note: Implementing the Swiss League Against Rheumatism concept requires successful completion of specific training provided by the League, as its application is reserved for duly qualified physiotherapists. Therefore, inquire about the training prerequisites before billing under this concept. physioswiss
How to prepare
- Consult the "Parachutes" procedure manual as well as the notices published by Physioswiss, including the document for prescribing physicians, useful for informing your referring networks.
- Physioswiss regularly offers introductory webinars on fall prevention (concepts, billing, implementation in the practice); consult their course schedule for upcoming dates.
- Integrate fall risk screening into your assessments of elderly patients now: functional tests, history of previous falls, review of medication and home environment.
On the billing side, if your practice works with phyzio.ch, the agenda.ch software, the new fall prevention service is already integrated: the corresponding positions are available automatically, without any update or configuration on your part.
In summary
Fall prevention marks the official inclusion of preventive physiotherapy in the Swiss Health Insurance Act (LAMal). For practices, this represents both a clinical opportunity and a new area of billable services, provided they adhere to recognized concepts and, where applicable, training requirements.
Sources: Physioswiss (physioswiss.ch), OPAS art. 5, Parachutes program, Swiss League against Rheumatism.
