France

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.

Recently, CNEDiMTS at HAS issued positive recommendation for inclusion of HeartMate 3 ventricular assist device into add-on reimbursement catalogue (LPPR title III). No added value was established vs earlier version of device (HeartMate II), despite better safety profile demonstrated in the randomized controlled trial.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of 8 medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS). They include coronary stents, portable oxygen concentrators, Urolift device, spinal ganglion stimulator and insulin pumps.

In May 2017, CNEDiMTS at the National Authority for Health (HAS) issued positive assessment of Urolift for add-on reimbursement via LPPR list. Added value was found to be minor in comparison with transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). This assessment provides better results compared to the earlier one in January 2017. Add-on reimbursement might be established within about one year period.

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.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of 9 medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in May and April. Among others decision included MRI compatible and recharge free spinal cord stimulation devices, resorbable plates for osteosynthesis.

At the meeting of 18th of April National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies made decisions about add-on reimbursement of 17 medical devices. Ten decisions have been released to date for orthopedic, osteointegrated processing, cardiac and intravascular devices.

Cédric Carbonneil from the Ministry of Health published a letter in Value in Health in response to the article "New French Coverage with Evidence Development for Innovative Medical Devices: Improvements and Unresolved Issues" published in January 2016. Dr Carbonneil offers an interesting insights into background, rationale and direction of development of this important coverage with evidence development program for medical devices, in-vitro diagnostics and medical procedures in France.

This post presents an extract from our reimbursement analysis for angioplasty of arteries of lower extremities with stenting using bare metal and drug-eluting stents for peripheral arterial disease in England, France and Germany. Procedure is reimbursed via combination of diagnosis-related group (DRG) and add-on reimbursement in England and France and solely via DRG in Germany.

National Commission for the Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) positively appraised Verrata and Verrate Plus guidewires for add-on reimbursement via LPPR title V. Level of added clinical value was considered moderate (ASA III) in comparison with management strategy, based solely on angiography data. This decision complements decision early this year in relation to St. Jude Medical’s (now Abbott) PressureWire FFR wires.

Ministerial decree to enlist Medtronic's IN.PACT Admiral for the LPPR title V for add-on reimbursement was published on 6th of May 2017 in the Official Journal of French Republic. This is not only the first peripheral DCB on the List, but one of the first invasive non-implantable devices to get add-on reimbursement in France.