Genetic tests

In March 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Health Technology Evaluations using early value assessment (digital health technologies to help manage symptoms of psychosis and prevent relapse in adults and young people, and digital technologies for managing non-specific low back pain). Furthermore, three new clinical guidelines were published, four clinical guidelines, and two Health Technology Evaluations were updated.

On January 23, 2024, the Ministry of Health introduced a new national catalog, which guarantees the Spanish population's genetic tests nationwide. Currently, the catalog includes 672 tests in eight disease areas, including adult and pediatric oncohematology, pharmacogenomics, hereditary metabolic and mitochondrial diseases, and others. Twelve more disease areas are expected to be added in 2024.

In December 2023, the reimbursement scheme for outpatient pathology services was updated for 2024. This scheme has been gradually introduced in Norway since 2022. It comprises fee-for-service reimbursement by the Norwegian Health Economics Administration (Helfo) using Pathology Activity Codes (APAT). Fourteen new reimbursement codes were introduced.

On January 01, 2024, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) published the updated list of medical procedures reimbursed under basic health insurance with restrictions or limitations. The procedures that were newly introduced to the list concern pulmonary, gynecology and ENT procedures, as well as genetic testing.

At early September 2023, the new version of the classification of procedure codes (CCAM v.73) was published. Several changes were introduced, including the creation of two permanent codes, one provisionally registered code, and three new grouping codes for 280 dental procedures.

On August 30, 2023, the National Board of Health and Welfare introduced national screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in newborns. The screening test will identify children with homozygous deletion in the SMN1 gene and 1–3 copies of the SMN2 gene. As a result, those affected by the most severe forms of SMA can receive treatment before the onset of symptoms.

The National Genomic Test Directory lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. It is updated annually. The applications submitted before April 1, 2024, to add new tests or change existing ones will be considered for implementation on April 1, 2025.

In late June 2023, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) decided to extend reimbursement for molecular biology tests by next-generation sequencing (NGS) for one year until June 30, 2024. NGS in oncology and hemato-oncology are temporarily reimbursed as a pilot under a specific agreement (Convention) with INAMI-RIZIV from 2019.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on July 1, 2023. The most significant changes concern introducing the new EBM codes for several IVD tests, as well as for the cryopreservation of the ovarian tissue.

On June 5, 2023, the updated version of the Laboratory test nomenclature was published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to come into force on July 1, 2023. A total of 138 new codes were introduced.

On June 1, 2023, NHS England issued an updated version of the National Genomic Test Directory, which lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. Three new codes (test-indication combinations) were introduced in the Test Directory for rare and inherited diseases.

On May 17, 2023, NHS England issued an updated version of the National Genomic Test Directory for cancer, which lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. Two new codes (test-indication combinations) were introduced.