Medical devices

The Italian association of medical technology manufacturers, CONFINDUSTRIA dispositivi medici, published the results of a study in which they studied the average time the supplier of medical devices has to wait to get an invoice paid by the Italian hospitals. The differences vary between 35 days and 504 days.

On January 30, 2020, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has published the List of the requests for innovation funding (NUB), submitted by the hospitals until October 31, 2019. Out of 778 technologies, 201 (26%) received the positive status 1, which means that the evaluated procedure or medical device meets the NUB criteria and allows the hospitals to negotiate with the sickness funds for the innovation funding for these technologies.

New material codes for a set of equipment for the quantification of collateral ventilation in isolated pulmonary compartments and unidirectional endobronchial valve with placement system were added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in February 2020.

In January 2020, the Reimbursement Commission made changes to the Healthcare Implementation Communique in Turkey. The main changes relate to the addition of new laboratory test codes, procedure codes, new devices related to the ophthalmology, and price changing of materials related to interventional radiology.

The HTA unit of the Lombardy region opens the possibility for the public to comment on the health technologies which are in the assessment phase. The call is open until February 28, 2020.

New material code for a set of nets for the repair of prolapse (for vaginal placement) was added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in January 2020.

With a regional decree of December 18, 2019, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of thirteen medical devices belonging to various therapeutic areas.

New material codes for implantable non-rechargeable neurostimulator, electrodes, and extensions for stimulation of the dorsal root nodes were added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in December 2019.

New material codes for an implantable sensor for continuous measurement of glucose in interstitial fluid and embolization equipment were added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in October 2019.

New material codes for extraction catheters were added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in September 2019.

Domestic use of motor-driven moving splints (continuous passive motion, CPM) after interventions at the knee or shoulder joint remains covered by statutory health insurance. This has been determined by the G-BA (the Federal Joint Committee).

Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor with a low survival rate, usually occurring in late adulthood. The standard treatment consists of surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has examined possible benefits of tumor-treating field (TTF) therapy - new treatment based on electrostimulation in patients with glioblastoma.