Endoscopic procedures

Report includes analysis for the following procedures: radiofrequency ablation, endoscopic plication and suturing, injection of bulking agents and endoscopic augmentation of the lower esophageal sphincter using hydrogel implants. 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 Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. In November new codes for reconstruction of breast, open adnexectomy, transoral laser microsurgery and surgical correction of hallux valgus were added to the CCSD Schedule.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. Several codes were added to both procedural and diagnostic Schedules, including procedures on spine and endoscopy procedure.

HAS published updated program that defines priority areas of work for 2017, including evidence review as part of developing new procedure codes for robotic surgery, endoscopic procedures, and technology assessments of remote monitoring, dialysis, coronary stents and others.

In second two weeks of May, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published two Medtech Innovation Briefings (collagen paste for anal fistulae and portable pulse‑echo ultrasound device to assist diagnosis of osteoporosis) one Interventional Procedure Guidance for endoscopic full thickness removal of non-lifting colonic polyps.

Changes will be made in nine chapters of Nomenclature. In relation to medical technologies and in-vitro diagnostics, the most important changes include changes in conditions for two ophthalmology and endoscopy codes, new conditions for reimbursement of photodynamic therapy in dermatology, introduction of two new codes for IVDs, and creating of requirements for reimbursement of number of IVD tests in pregnancy.

Three mini-HTAs were published since beginning of 2017: procalcitonin for diagnostic of bacterial infections, Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for achalasia, and use of the Prosigna test (PAM50 ROR) for decisions on adjuvant treatment in breast cancer. These assessments can support introduction of methods at local hospital level in Norway.