Diagnostics

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) group develop and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New diagnostic codes concern circulating tumor DNA profile for the different type of cancers, myriad Prolaris test, PET Scan with florbetapir, etc. and a procedure code for robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The codes are introduced with a recommended adoption date being the 1st of May 2019. The documents also contain a list of textual changes in codes and an updated list of unacceptable combinations of codes.

Danish Health Authority published new codes for the Health Care Classification System in April 2019, including twelve surgical, nine medical codes and two codes for imaging diagnostics. New codes include endovascular occlusion of intracranial vessels, creation of AV fistula, number of embolization procedures and some other codes.

The report presents a summary of reimbursement situation for diagnostic endoscopic procedures on the upper gastrointestinal tract for benign and malignant diseases in outpatient settings. The following procedures will be considered: esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, duodenoscopy. 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.

The 13 innovations joining the NHS Innovation Accelerator were announced on March 5, 2019, as part of an event to launch the fourth year of this award-winning national accelerator.

Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) released changes in coverage of medical procedures, IVD tests and medical aids in Switzerland. They include extension of coverage for neonatal screening to severe congenital immunodeficiencies, extension of coverage under restrictions for TAVI, gene test for breast cancer, PET, PET / CT, local superficial hyperthermia during tumour treatment, external defibrillator and coverage for sub-urethral tapes for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. Also, changes in the coverage for neonatal screening were introduced.

In mid-June 2018, the Spanish Network of Agencies for Assessing National Health System Technologies and Performance (REDETS) has published a report which analyzes transbronchial lung biopsy using cryoprobes in diffused lung diseases.

At the beginning of June 2018, the Federal Department of Home Affairs published an update of the Services Ordinance (Ordinanza sulle prestazioni, OPre). This update concerns many different fields, including the list of laboratory tests.

Starting with 19th of June, 2018, HIV self-test kits can be bought in pharmacies and druggists all over Switzerland.

In mid-May 2018, the Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Evaluation, AETSA, has published a structured summary on 18F-FDG PET in the early diagnosis of degenerative diseases of the central nervous system.

In late April 2018, AETSA, the Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment, has published a report with the update of evidence regarding prognostic genomic tests in early breast cancer in Spain.

In mid-April 2018, the Basque HTA body (OSTEBA) has published recommendations of the clinical practice guidelines and use of the immunological faecal occult blood test for patients with symptoms compatible with colorectal cancer.

In November 2017, the Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AETSA) published an evaluation report (assessed within literature review) on the utility of exome sequencing for diagnosed dysmorphic syndromes.