e-Health

In December 2024, MTRC reported that the first health app had entered Level 3+ of the mHealthBelgium validation pyramid, indicating eligibility for regular reimbursement. However, no health apps are currently listed at Level 3 on the validation pyramid. mHealthBelgium clarified to MTRC that the December 2024 listing was part of a visual test to demonstrate how an app would appear at Level 3 on their website. They anticipate that the first apps will officially reach Level 3 by the end of January 2025.

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedures Guidance (Direct skeletal fixation of limb prostheses using an intraosseous transcutaneous implant, MRI-guided focused ultrasound subthalamotomy and thalamotomy for treating Parkinson’s), one new Diagnostic Guidance (Home-testing devices for diagnosing OSAHS) and one new Early Value Assessment (Digital technologies to support self-management of COPD).

In December 2024, the Danish Board for Health Apps published information on how to apply for the health app evaluation, including the electronic form for the application to the Board of Health Apps, the assessment criteria, and details of the application process.

In late November 2024, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decisions recommending the transfer to standard care for two completed projects. The projects were dedicated to relieving the burden of emergency rooms and improving infection surveillance in nursing homes.

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI/RIZIV) launched a new agreement (Convention) allowing reimbursement for remote monitoring of patients with chronic heart failure. It will come into force on January 1, 2025. New codes (pseudonomenclature) with fees for packages of care will be used for reimbursement. The packages include monitoring of clinical parameters by patients at home (e.g., blood pressure measurement or pulmonary artery pressure measured by an implanted sensor) and transmission of data via a health app to the remote monitoring team at the hospital.

On November 6, 2024, the first meeting of the Board for Health Apps was held in Denmark. As soon as the Board determines the criteria according to which it will assess health apps, it will be possible to apply for assessment followed by recommendations

In November 2024, the following ongoing mini-HTA assessments for cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, gastrointestinal, in-vitro diagnostics, interventional radiology, men’s health, pulmonary and airways, robotic surgery, and some other fields are evaluated as a part of a framework for the managed introduction of innovations "New Methods" in Norway.

In November 2024, NICE introduced CHEERS-AI - a new reporting standard for health economic evaluations of AI technologies. This will help healthcare decision-makers understand the value of AI-enabled treatments, allowing patients to access the most promising ones faster.

In October 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released seven Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned the Genedrive kit, timing of stoma closure in neonates, interventions in perceptual disorders after stroke, revascularisation strategy for chronic limb ischemia, MRI software and cognitive fusion biopsies in prostate cancer, transperineal prostate biopsy devices, and ultraviolet therapy in severe eczema. HTA Journal publishes research reports on the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage, and provide care in the NHS and informs NICE guidance.

In November 2024, the Danish Government presented a new Strategy for Life Science towards 2030. The Strategy will strengthen the role of innovative health solutions in relation to freeing up labor and ensuring a sustainable healthcare system. The Vision is that Denmark must be a leading life science nation in Europe to benefit patients, the Danish healthcare system, and the Danish economy.

In October 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Diagnostics Guidance concerning heart failure algorithms for remote monitoring in people with cardiac implantable electronic devices and digital technologies for assessing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

In October 2024, the annual update of the Swedish procedure coding system (Classification of Health Care Measures, KVÅ) was released to come into force on January 1, 2025. A total of 55 new surgical procedure codes and 43 new medical procedure codes were introduced concerning diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, ENT, men’s health, nephrology and urology, gynecology, orthopedics, pulmonology, and some other areas.