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Orthopedic procedures

14
Jul 2025

The 2026 DRG (LKF) model was announced in Austria

On June 30, 2025, the document "Changes and innovations in the 2026 LKF model" (Änderungen und Neuerungen in den LKF-Modellen 2026) was published. The document summarizes the most significant changes and innovations in the LKF model for inpatient and outpatient care. The procedure codes expected to be introduced in 2026 mainly concern e-health, endoscopy, interventional radiology, orthopedics, pulmonology, and robotic fields.
09
Jul 2025

New Nomenclature Articles introduced for orthopedic technologists in July 2025 in Belgium

On July 1, 2025, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI/RIZIV) updated Nomenclature to recognize the new professional title "orthopedic technologist", replacing the former specialties of "bandaging specialist" and "orthotist". Two Articles were repealed, and three new Articles have been introduced, detailing reimbursement for services in bandagery, orthotics, prosthetics, and orthopedic footwear services.
08
Jul 2025

The revised EBM catalog for the third quarter of 2025 published in Germany

On July 1, 2025, the revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog for the third quarter of 2025 came into force. The main changes introduced concern updates of the contents (services legends, preambles of several EBM subchapters) and the introduction of new EBM codes for the reimbursement of transmitters for telemonitoring and telemedical monitoring of implantable cardiac devices, as well as codes for the services provided within the co-funded study on low-dose pulsed ultrasound for pseudarthrosis.
23
Jun 2025

A regular update of the Danish SKS coding system from July 2025

The Danish Health Data Authority quarterly updates the Health Care Classification System (SKS). The latest version was published in mid-June 2025 to come into force on July 1, 2025. Among other changes, seventy-eight new procedure codes were introduced concerning dermatology, endoscopy, ENT, interventional radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, spine, surgical procedures, and some other fields.
21
May 2025

The Trendwatch Report on MedTech innovations was published in the Netherlands

In May 2025, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) published the Trendwatch Report on Healthcare Innovations in Specialist Medical Care, identifying 316 MedTech innovations across 11 clusters, with AI-driven diagnostics, predictive models, and image-guided therapy predicted to have the highest impact in the medical specialist care, while also highlighting significant risks associated with assistive robotics and wearable monitoring technologies for inclusion in basic health insurance.
07
Apr 2025

A regular update of the Danish SKS coding system from April 2025

The Danish Health Data Authority quarterly updates the Health Care Classification System (SKS). The latest version was published in mid-March 2025 to come into force on April 1, 2025. Among other changes, fifty-one new procedure codes were introduced concerning cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, dermatology, gastrointestinal, nephrology and urology, nuclear medicine, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, pulmonary and airways, surgical procedures, robotic surgery, and some other fields.
11
Mar 2025

Seven more health apps obtained reimbursement in Germany since February 2024

Between late February 2024 and early March 2025, seven more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 59 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and ten health apps were delisted from the Directory.
31
Jan 2025

Med Tech-related health technology assessments from NIHR in December 2024

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released four Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned cervical ripening during labor induction in different settings, fasciectomy surgery for Dupuytren's contracture in adults, hybrid closed-loop systems in type 1 diabetes, point-of-care tests for urinary tract infections. HTA Journal publishes research reports on the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage, and provide care in the NHS and informs NICE guidance.
17
Jan 2025

Med Tech-related technology assessments from NICE in December 2024

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedures Guidance (Direct skeletal fixation of limb prostheses using an intraosseous transcutaneous implant, MRI-guided focused ultrasound subthalamotomy and thalamotomy for treating Parkinson’s), one new Diagnostic Guidance (Home-testing devices for diagnosing OSAHS) and one new Early Value Assessment (Digital technologies to support self-management of COPD).
02
Jan 2025

The 2025 version of the SwissDRG released

On December 12, 2024, the entity managing the DRG system in Switzerland, SwissDRG, published the final (billing) version of the 2025 DRG system. In total, 23 new DRGs related to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nephrology and urology, neurology and neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, pulmonary and airways, and some other areas were introduced. Also, 17 new add-on reimbursement categories were implemented.
15
Nov 2024

The 2025 version of the Swiss CHOP code nomenclature published

On October 31, 2024, the Swiss Federal Statistics Office (UFS) released the systematic version of the procedure code (CHOP) nomenclature for 2025. The nomenclature is now available in German, Italian, and French languages and will come into force on January 1, 2025. Multiple new procedure codes were introduced in various fields, including endoscopy, extracorporeal treatments, in-vitro diagnostics, interventional radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, and radiotherapy.