France

In October, HAS published a set of decisions about add-on reimbursement of medical devices that were assessed by the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS). These decisions concern orthopedic devices (foot prosthesis, bone graft substitute), TAVI using Sapien valve, liquid embolic system, remote monitoring system, wound dressing and home oxygen system.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in September 2017. They include knee and hip prostheses, therapeutic shoes, coronary stents, heart valves, peripheral stents, and balloons.

At the beginning of August 2017, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published a health technology assessment of systems for remote monitoring for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). The aim of this assessment was an update and clarification of arrangements for the provision of implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems (ICDS) to improve the quality of care for patients with ICD and to promote the deployment of effective solutions in the country.

MTRC has analyzed timing of decision-making (negotiation about price, final ministerial decision and publication of the decision) after recommendation by CNEDiMTS about expected benefit (AS) and added clinical value (ASA) for invasive non-implantable medical devices reimbursed via LPPR list, title V. Since establishment of the title V program, 5 technologies were added to the List (stent retrievers for stroke; peripheral drug-coated balloons). Time from the recommendation by CNEDiMTS until the start of reimbursement varied from 7 to 13 months (9.4 months on average).

Ministry of Health will close applications for proposals for inclusion of novel innovative tests into the List of Acts Outside Nomenclature in 2018 (Référentiel des actes Innovants Hors Nomenclatures, RIHN) 3rd of October 2017. RIHN provides early reimbursement for innovative tests, for which value is not yet validated to allow enlisting in the NABM Nomenclature.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in August 2017. They include different types of stents and stent-grafts for multiple indications (coronary, peripheral vascular), mechanical thrombectomy devices for stroke, medical devices applied for treatment of ulcer of venous origin, remote monitoring for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Systems (ICDS).

There is an ongoing process to change the structure of add-on reimbursement for peripheral vascular stents in France. In July 2017 CNEDiMTS issued additional clarifications about proposed reimbursement requirements for stents and stent-grafts. Read about proposed changes in our post.

There is an ongoing process to establish add-on reimbursement for FFR guidewires. Earlier in 2017 two guidewires (Verrata & Verrata More, Philips Volcano; Pressurewire (Certus - Aeris – X), Abbott) received a positive assessment by the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) with moderate improvement vs. standard of care. In June 2017, COMET device also received a positive recommendation from CNEDiMTS (no improvement vs. already recommended devices) only on the basis of data about technical equivalency. This is unusual for brand-specific applications and may be an interesting precedent for further applications.

The National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) reviewed indications for number of devices on the LPPR list and made recommendations about structure of the section in the LPPR list.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of 10 medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS). They include microprocessor controlled knee prosthesis, transcatheter pulmonary valve, deep brain stimulation device, kit for self-monitoring of blood glucose and others.

Researchers evaluated care process, access, administrative efficiency, equity and health care outcomes in 11 countries on the basis of published health care statistics for 72 indicators. The best overall performers among European countries were the UK (ranked 1st), the Netherlands (3rd), Norway (4th), Sweden and Switzerland (6th). Germany (8th) and France (10th) were low in the ranking.