France

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.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) has initiated an assessment of organizational impact of mechanical thrombectomy on the system of stroke management in France with objective to find the most adequate way of further introduction of the method into French health care system.

A new decree changed reimbursement approach for critical care in France. Before, it was reimbursed via daily supplements on top of base DRG tariff. New model introduces a mixed payment system with daily supplements and additional annual flat-rate fee, which depends on the size of the intensive care unit and activity in the previous year.

Check out reimbursement summary for the most established transcatheter mitral valve repair procedure in England, France and Germany. Reimbursement is established in Germany and France (for one indication). It is in process to be established in England and in France (for other indications).

This post presents an extract from our reimbursement analysis for angioplasty of arteries lower extremities using plain and drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for peripheral artery disease in England, France and Germany. Plain balloon angioplasty is reimbursement via DRG solely and DCBs are reimbursement via combination of DRG and add-on reimbursement.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) has released report about evaluation of cardiac defibrillation probes and proposed updated nomenclature.