PET/CT

In July 2020, the Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA) issued an updated report on the PET/PET-CT evidence for need-based planning in Austria.

The Swiss Services Ordinance (KLV/OPre) is the document that defines the health care services which are covered by the compulsory health insurance in Switzerland. It is updated annually (with more frequent updates possible); thus, the 2020 version is released. Changes concern autologous transplantation of chondrocytes, extracorporeal photopheresis, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, ultrasound therapy focused on the pallidum, thalamus and subthalamus, CAR-T cell therapies, tomography with positron emission (PET/CT), stereotactic radiation therapy (photons) of wet age-related macular degeneration.

In September 2019, the Andalusian Health Technology Assessment Department (AETSA) has released an assessment report regarding the evaluation of PET scan usefulness in non-oncological indications. The performed analysis showed that the quality of available systematic reviews related to the issue is generally low and, in some cases, moderate. The high-quality reviews, which conclude that routine use cannot be recommended, were found only for the indication of cognitive impairment with suspected Alzheimer's disease.

On June 6, 2019, the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) has changed the Services Ordinance (OPre/KLV), which determines coverage of health care services in Switzerland. The changes regard mostly the reimbursement rules for various services. Furthermore, there are updates regarding the Health Insurance Law (LAMal/KVG), List of Analyses, List of Medical Aids and Equipment, and clinical coding.

In May 2019, the Galician Agency for Health Technology Assessment, AVALIA-T, has released a report “Diagnostic and clinical utility of cerebral amyloid PET in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias.”

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) group develop and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New diagnostic codes concern circulating tumor DNA profile for the different type of cancers, myriad Prolaris test, PET Scan with florbetapir, etc. and a procedure code for robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The codes are introduced with a recommended adoption date being the 1st of May 2019. The documents also contain a list of textual changes in codes and an updated list of unacceptable combinations of codes.

Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) released changes in coverage of medical procedures, IVD tests and medical aids in Switzerland. They include extension of coverage for neonatal screening to severe congenital immunodeficiencies, extension of coverage under restrictions for TAVI, gene test for breast cancer, PET, PET / CT, local superficial hyperthermia during tumour treatment, external defibrillator and coverage for sub-urethral tapes for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. Also, changes in the coverage for neonatal screening were introduced.

In October 2018, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institue (LBI), published the update on the PET/PET-CT topic. The report was done together with the Berlin Technical University.

In March 2017, G-BA approved two additional indications for application of PET/CT for management of neck and head tumors in hospital settings after reevaluation of evidence by IQWiG in 2016. New indications concern decision making about need for neck dissection and laryngoscopic biopsy.