e-Health

On July 07, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Prevention announced the implementation of the transitional period for innovative technologies following the experiment under Article 51 of the Social Security Financing Act.

In July 2023, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) significantly updated the process to obtain reimbursement for health apps. More stakeholders, including the industry, can now submit an application to INAMI-RIZIV for temporary or permanent reimbursement. The new process will come into force on October 1, 2023.

At the end of June 2023, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published a new document with the goal of improving professional practices: Digital medical devices for professional use – Guide on choosing digital medical devices for professional use.

On June 30, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the determined funding priorities for healthcare research projects (five topics) and clinical guidelines (four topics).

On July 05, 2023, the new version of the List of reimbursable products and services (LPPR) was released. Five new reimbursement codes for reimbursement of digital medical devices for medical telemonitoring activities were introduced.

On June 7, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the overview of thirty-five newly funded healthcare research projects. These projects relate to the two funding announcements of June 27, 2022 (changed on September 20, 2022).

n the period of April-May 2023, the Galician Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AVALIA-T) initiated the five health technology assessments referred to IVD, nephrology and urology, obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonary and airways as well as surgical procedures technology groups. The assessments on stereotactic virtual navigation system for percutaneous puncture as well as tumor ablation and invasive telemonitoring of pulmonary pressure in patients with heart failure were released.

In May 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new Interventional Procedure Guidance (intramuscular diaphragm stimulation for ventilator-dependent chronic respiratory failure from high spinal cord injuries), two new Diagnostic Guidance (MRI fusion biopsy systems for diagnosing prostate cancer, automated ankle-brachial pressure index measurement devices to detect peripheral arterial disease), and three new Health Technology Evaluations (Digitally enabled therapies for adults with anxiety disorders / with depression, and point-of-care tests for urinary tract infections). Also, four clinical guidelines were updated.

On May 23, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Prevention published an Order in the Official Journal of the French Republic setting the tariffs for the medical telemonitoring activities covered by social health insurance in the context of the new framework. The tariffs will differ whether they bring an organizational or clinical (improvement in quality of life, morbidity, or mortality) benefit.

On April 5, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) announced the selection of thirty-five applications for Innovation Funding of healthcare research projects were accepted. A total of 231 applications were received in response to the funding announcement of June 27, 2022 (changed on September 20, 2022), and thirty-five of them were accepted.

On May 17, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Prevention published the 2023-2027 Digital Health Roadmap. The new roadmap specifies the priorities and the projects to be carried out by 2027. One of the key objectives is to support the implementation and extension of telemonitoring to more chronic pathologies.

Between late April and May 2023, three more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 47 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.