Cochlear implants

In November 2021, the National Board of Health and Welfare released an annual update of the Swedish procedure coding classification (Classification of Health Care Measures, KVÅ) that will come into force in January 2022. KVÅ includes two parts – medical procedures (KMÅ) and surgical procedures (KKÅ) divided into chapters based on anatomical principles. In 2022, six new surgical procedure codes will be introduced. Furthermore, structural changes will be made in Chapter V "Operations on the aorta, peripheral vessels, and lymphatic system," introducing two new sub-chapters with 318 new codes. A total of 53 new medical procedure codes (KMÅ) will be added.

In October 2021, the National Board of Health and Welfare released the Swedish version of the 2022 NordDRG. Six new DRGs were added, and they concern the cardiovascular area, vaccination, cochlear implants, and visits in primary care. Also, several changes in DRG content and logic were made.

In late May 2021, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England, has published Bulletins 0177 and 0074 with changes to be implemented not later than August 01, 2021. Five new procedure codes related to diagnostic imaging, ENT, breast reconstruction, and gynecology, and nine new diagnostic codes were introduced.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) regularly publishes new decisions about add-on reimbursement for medical devices. The decisions made in October 2019 concern various types of devices, including orthopedic, cardiovascular devices, and hearing aids. A total of twenty-four decisions were made.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) regularly publishes new decisions about add-on reimbursement for medical devices. The decisions made in September 2019 concern various types of devices, including orthopedic, cardiovascular devices, and hearing aids. A total of eighteen decisions were made.

In April 2019, the Catalan Agency for Quality and Healthcare Evaluation, AQuAS, published a quick report with indication criteria for cochlear implants in children.

In mid-November, 2018, the Catalan Agency for Quality and Healthcare Evaluation, AQuAS, published their evaluation of bilateral cochlear implants in children and adults. The authors provided a list of criteria a patient has to fulfil in order to have a cochlear implant prescribed.

The report presents a summary of reimbursement situation for cochlear implants for hearing loss. The only reimbursement within public / statutory health insurance systems is considered. The analysis covers procedure coding, payment mechanism, reimbursement tariffs and policy restrictions in 11 EU countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Six new DRGs have been added for 2019, including proton therapy, insertion of functional implants in the urinary tract or male genitals and replacement of processor in cochleart implant.