Norway

The "New Method" is currently developing criteria for which methods other than drugs shall be prioritized for assessment within the framework at the national or local levels. On January 17, 2022, the project status was presented at the Ordering Forum for "New Method." It was reported that the project would require more resources and time than initially thought.

On November 23, 2021, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released an updated version of the National Laboratory code (NLK) system and associated tariffs for state and private laboratories to be implemented no later than January 01, 2021. NLK system has been used for activity-based reimbursement by the Norwegian Health Economics Administration (Helfo) in outpatient settings since 2018. Thirty new codes were added in medical biochemistry, immunology and transfusiology, and clinical pharmacology areas.

On September 27, 2021, the Decision Forum for "New Methods" decided not to introduce bronchial thermoplasty as a routine treatment of patients with severe asthma. The method should only be used within clinical trials.

On September 23, 2021, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released an updated version of the National Laboratory code (NLK) system and associated tariffs for state and private laboratories to be implemented no later than November 01, 2021. NLK system has been used for activity-based reimbursement by the Norwegian Health Economics Administration (Helfo) in outpatient settings since 2018. Thirty-nine new codes were added in medical biochemistry, clinical pharmacology, and medical microbiology areas.

In September 2021, the Norwegian Directorate for e-Health released the procedure coding system for 2022. A total of 75 new codes were introduced: eight new surgical procedure codes concerning gastroenterology, men's health, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiovascular and surgical procedures, 53 new radiology procedure codes, and 14 new medical procedure codes.

At the end of August, the complete method assessment for continuous glucose measurement for patients with type I diabetes with the main focus on patients over 18 years old was initiated as a part of a “New Method” framework. The assessment will be carried out at the National Institute of Public Health; besides the use of continuous glucose monitoring, flash glucose monitoring is considered as well.

In August 2021, the mini-HTA evaluation of the robot-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention was released. The method was described as safe and effective. After the introduction into the clinical practice, the method should be followed up for two years with a sufficient number of procedures to understand the real benefit. All procedures are to be registered in the Norwegian Registry for Invasive Cardiology.

On August 17, 2021, the National Institute of Public Health released a rapid HTA report on the evaluation of PD-L1 assays in urothelial carcinoma commissioned by the Ordering Forum. This assessment does not provide any conclusions on the effectiveness of various treatment strategies in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma in adults.

On August 30, 2021, the Decision Forum for "New Methods" made a positive coverage decision for two methods: Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT) for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment and organ donation using normothermic regional perfusion in patients with severe brain injury and who died of cardiac and respiratory arrest when life-prolonging treatment is discontinued.

In 2013, Norway established a framework, “New Method,” for the introduction of innovations into the health care system through either a national or hospital-based health technology assessment. In this framework, all innovations should undergo HTA before being funded. As of June 7, 2021, five HTAs of in-vitro diagnostics are in progress.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI/TAVR) in severe aortic stenosis treatment across all surgical risk groups was being evaluated within the "New Methods" framework since 2019. On April 26, 2021, the Decision Forum for "New Methods" made a positive coverage decision for TAVI/TAVR to treat patients with severe aortic stenosis across all surgical risk groups.

On March 23, 2021, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released an updated version of the National Laboratory code (NLK) system and associated tariffs for state and private laboratories to be implemented not later than May 01, 2021. NLK system is used for activity-based reimbursement by the Norwegian Health Economics Administration (Helfo) in outpatient settings since 2018.Thirty-four new codes were added in medical biochemistry and medical microbiology areas.