Cryoablation

In July 2024, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) approved a new agreement (Convention) allowing reimbursement for percutaneous CT-guided ablation of renal, hepatic, pulmonary, and bone tumors. The agreement will come into force on November 1, 2024, and will be valid until October 31, 2029.

In the first half of June 2024, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published its positive opinions regarding the reimbursement of several services in France.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new recommendations about add-on reimbursement of medical devices and medical aids from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in April 2024. Eighteen recommendations were published concerning the registration of medical devices or modification of registration conditions/extension of indications for the medical devices in the List of Reimbursable Products and Services (LPPR). Opinions concern cardiovascular, neurovascular, gastrointestinal, interventional radiology, nephrology and urology, neuromodulation, and orthopedic devices, as well as medical aids.

In October 2023, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins with changes to be implemented no later than December 7, 2023. Eight new procedure codes (concerning endoscopy, gastrointestinal, interventional radiology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and men's health) and three new diagnostic codes were introduced.

In September 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (removal, preservation, and reimplantation of ovarian tissue for restoring fertility, transurethral water-jet ablation for lower urinary tract symptoms, cryotherapy for chronic rhinitis), and three Health Technology Evaluations using early value assessment (AI-derived software to analyze chest X-rays for suspected lung cancer, AI technologies to aid contouring for radiotherapy planning, KardiaMobile 6L for adults having antipsychotic medication). Also, two new clinical guidelines were published, and three were updated.

In January 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published four new Interventional Procedure Guidance (percutaneous image-guided cryoablation of peripheral neuroma, laparoscopic insertion of a magnetic ring, transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, and trabeculectomy with a biodegradable collagen matrix implant ), two new Diagnostic Guidance (devices for remote monitoring of Parkinson's disease, MRI-based technologies for assessing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), and three new Medtech Innovation Briefings (PredictSURE IBD, Ambu aScope 4 Broncho, and Aquablation robotic therapy). One MedTech-related clinical guideline was updated.

In December 2021, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins 0181 and 0078 with changes to be implemented no later than February 01, 2022. Seven new procedure codes and four new diagnostic codes were introduced.

The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for minimally invasive treatment of prostate cancer in Europe. The following procedures are considered under the scope of analysis: high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), cryoablation, focal laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, microwave thermal ablation of the prostate. Open and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, as well as external radioation therapy and low-dose-rate barchytherapy, are considered as comparators. 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. It is also possible to add analysis in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for the use of minimally invasive treatment of lung cancer in Europe. The following procedures ware considered under the scope of analysis: cryotherapy, microwave ablation, photodynamic therapy, radiofrequency ablation of lung. Open and VATS lobectomy will be considered as a comparator. 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. It is also possible to add analysis in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

NICE issued a consultation document about safety and efficacy of balloon cryoablation for Barrett’s oesophagus and squamous dysplasia of the oesophagus and balloon dilation for eustachian tube dysfunction which were considered for Interventional Procedures Guidance in development for public consultation until 20 September 2019.