Belgium

On December 17, 2021, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) published a health services research report “Evidence gaps for drugs and medical devices at market entry in Europe and potential solutions”. In this report, KCE examined the lack of comparative evidence health technology assessment (HTA) agencies and payers face in evaluating new medicinal products and high-risk medical devices at market entry.

In spring 2022, a new reimbursement system for remote consultations will be launched with new reimbursement codes and conditions.

On November 9, 2021, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) published the health technology assessment report "Remote monitoring of patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED)". Analysis of efficacy and safety of remote monitoring showed an advantage in various aspects. Cost-effectiveness analysis indicates that remote cardiac monitoring of ICDs and PMs is cost-effective compared to monitoring based on in-clinic visits.

On April 22, 2021, the List of reimbursable implants and invasive medical devices, maintained by the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI), was updated with the corresponding Nominative lists of brand-specific devices. Two new Nominative lists with reimbursable devices used for peripheral vascular interventions were introduced.

On March 4, 2021, INAMI-RIZIV announced the development of a multi-year trajectory for the health care budget in which will define the allocation of resources for health care objectives for 2022-2024.

On January 19, 2021, the 2021 tariffs for APR-DRG groups, as well as the distribution of total amount within DRG among all specialists and services which are provided by them, were published. Except for the update of the tariffs, no other changes were introduced within the Belgian DRG system.

On January 19, 2021, Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) published a health services research report "Barriers and facilitators for eHealth adoption by general practitioners”. Findings from the research show that there is a wide range of factors contributing to the uptake of eHealth technology by healthcare professionals. These factors range from the quality of the eHealth technology, use, and user satisfaction, net benefits, individual, organizational, and implementation characteristics to country-specific factors (such as governance, standards, funding, or trends).

On January 20, 2021, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) announced the reimbursement pathway for health apps. Health apps can now reach level M3 of the validation pyramid.

On December 22, 2020, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) announced a pilot project which concerns the remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients before and after their hospitalization as part of an integrated medical approach supported by digital applications.

Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) initiated the health services research on facilitators and barriers for e-Health adoption by general practitioners. The project has been started in 2017 and is still ongoing.

The Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) is conducting research towards a faster, substantiated decision on the reimbursement of innovative medical products. The project started in 2019 and is still being conducted.

New material codes and related conditions of reimbursement for anchoring and fixation implants for soft tissue were added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in August 2020.