2021 Norwegian Laboratory Code System updates released

On January 25, 2021, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released a regular update of the Norwegian Laboratory code (NLK) system (Norsk laboratoriekodeverk version 7280.54) and associated tariffs (Laboratoriekodeverk som gir rett til refusjon) for state and private laboratories to be implemented not later than March 01, 2021.

The Directorate of e-Health manages the NLK system, which is based on the international NPU coding system, and releases updates five times a year (January, March, May, September, and November). NLK system is used for activity-based reimbursement in outpatient settings since 2018. Norwegian Health Economics Administration (Helfo) reimburses performed laboratory tests.

Sixty-three new NLK codes were added in January:

• Fifteen new medical biochemistry codes were introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category MB0 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 0.48 NOK);

• Three new medical biochemistry codes were introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category MB2 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 6.74 NOK);
• Two new medical biochemistry codes were introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category MB11 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 217.83 NOK);
• One new medical biochemistry code was introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category MB13 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 1185.41 NOK);
• One new immunology and transfusiology code was introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category IT0 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 0.9 NOK);
• Thirty new clinical pharmacology codes were introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category KF2 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 21.95 NOK);
• Five new medical microbiology codes were introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category MM2 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 37.67 NOK);
• Four new medical microbiology codes (for SARS-CoV-2 antibody) were introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category MM3 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 49.26 NOK);
• Two new medical microbiology codes (for SARS-CoV-2 RNA) were introduced and allocated to the reimbursement category MM6 (meaning that the reimbursement tariff in state laboratories is 185.5 NOK)

Also, 120 codes have been changed, and 53 codes have been terminated.

On February 02, 2021, an extra update was issued (version 7280.55) to be implemented not later than April 01, 2021. Five new NLK codes for analyzes of mutated SARS-CoV-2 were introduced; however, tariffs for these new codes are not published yet.

See more information in Norwegian here (codes) and here (tariffs).

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