At a glance
With electronic data interchange (EDI), you send invoices to Visana quickly, securely and digitally – directly from your system. This can simplify your business processes, saving you time and money. EDI enables the introduction of invoicing systems that are required by law or contract, such as those based on the TARMED, TARDOC or SwissDRG medical tariffs.
Requirements for electronic data interchange
Visana is fully equipped for electronic data interchange (EDI) with invoicing parties, on the basis of the tiers payant principle. For successful EDI with Visana, you need an operational connection between your system and one of the following providers or intermediaries:
Technical requirements
The providers specify the technical requirements.
Guidelines and standards
The standards and guidelines defined by Forum Datenaustausch (a forum for EDI in the healthcare sector) apply – specifically, the currently applicable XML standards (only available in German).
Invoicing categories and tariff systems
Visana works with all public tariff systems. The tariff systems listed below include clearly defined specifications regarding the processing and data protection involved in electronic invoicing.
- SwissDRG – invoicing for physical treatment
- TARPSY – invoicing for inpatient psychiatry
- ST Reha – neurological rehabilitation
In addition to the invoice, the MCD (minimal clinical dataset) for the specified tariff systems must also be submitted. For electronic invoicing, the two XML standards generalInvoiceRequest & hospitalMCDRequest from Forum Datenaustausch (only available in German) must therefore be used. We expect the invoice and the corresponding medical treatment-related data (MCD) to be sent to the data reception service in coupled form. For this coupling, a ‘container’ from Forum Datenaustausch (generalContainer_430.xsd (only available in German) is used.
When processing hospital invoices that are covered by compulsory health insurance and accompanied by medical treatment-related data (MCD), health insurers are obliged by a legal ordinance to observe data protection requirements and to use an appropriately certified data reception service. In return, whenever sending the health insurer an invoice, hospitals must also provide the diagnostic and treatment-related data that the health insurer needs for proper invoice verification. These requirements apply to all three of the tariff systems SwissDRG, TARPYS and ST Reha.
Since the end of March 2013, the Visana Group has guaranteed full compliance with data protection requirements. Its newly established data reception service has been certified by the independent quality-related service provider SQS. The list of certified data reception services is published on the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) website: SwissDRG and data reception services (only available in German). This enables the Visana Group to receive and process electronic hospital invoices and medical treatment-related data (MCD) in accordance with data protection requirements. Visana’s compliance with data protection requirements and SQS certification apply to all three of the aforementioned tariff systems.
Links to the FDPIC:
Welcome to the FDPIC
Invoicing of hospitalisation costs
SwissDRG und Datenannahmestellen (only available in German)
The new version 5.0 of the XML standards has been in effect since the 1st of January 2026.
The new version 5.0 of the XML standards must be used for electronic processing of the TARDOC tariff system and outpatient flat rates:
Forum Datenaustausch (only available in German)
Forum Datenaustausch News (only available in German)
How it works
Get started with EDI in three easy steps.
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Check with your software provider (or another provider of your choosing) to ensure that your system is EDI-compliant.
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Once you have successfully completed testing with your provider, you can start sending us your first invoices. If you wish to carry out prior testing with us as well, please let us know by using our contact form. We will then get in touch, so we can define the testing procedure together.
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Our EDI team will gladly answer any questions you may have during productive operation.
Your advantages with EDI
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Direct and rapid transfer of data on provided services
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GDPR-compliant, thanks to encrypted data transfer
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Reduced administrative effort
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Simplified invoicing
Fill in the form. Our EDI team will be in touch within two working days.
Frequently asked questions about electronic data interchange (EDI)
Visana will not charge you for anything. However, the provider you choose may charge you.
Electronic data interchange (EDI) should be possible with any sector-specific software. The important factor is compatibility with the XML standards (available only in German and in French) from Forum Datenaustausch.
Please ask your provider and/or software manufacturer.
It is best to first contact your provider’s or software manufacturer’s support team. If we are responsible for the fault, please feel free to contact us.
"The data listed in the Forum Datenaustausch’s standard specifications. However, in the standard, some information is only optional, although it is mandatory for some service providers or processes. SASIS has produced two guides on this subject:
- Nursing (nursing home/Spitex services):
Guide to invoicing for nursing services – SASIS (only available in German) - Inpatient invoices:
Guide to interim invoicing and instalment invoicing for inpatient hospital cases – SASIS" (only available in German)