Procedure coding

On November 1, 2023, thirteen new procedure codes came into force in the updated Finnish classification of procedures (THL). The introduced codes concerned diagnostic imaging, radiology, neurology, peripheral vascular, and other fields.

In October 2023, the annual update of the Swedish procedure coding system (Classification of Health Care Measures, KVÅ) was released to come into force on January 1, 2024. A total of 70 new surgical procedure codes and 17 new medical procedure codes were introduced concerning endoscopy, ENT, men’s health, nephrology and urology, peripheral vascular, and spine.

In October 2023, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins with changes to be implemented no later than December 7, 2023. Eight new procedure codes (concerning endoscopy, gastrointestinal, interventional radiology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and men's health) and three new diagnostic codes were introduced.

In October 2023, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released the Norwegian Clinical Procedure Codes for 2024. The coding system consists of three parts: NCMP for medical procedures, NCSP for surgical, and NCRP for radiological procedures. A total of 28 new codes will be introduced from January 2024: 10 new surgical procedure codes, 14 new radiology procedure codes, and four new medical procedure codes.

On September 28, 2023, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the second release of the DRG package for 2024 (RZ24b). One new procedure code, two new supplementary payments, and three new DRGs will be implemented across in-vitro diagnostics, urology, and cardiovascular technology groups.

The Danish Health Data Authority quarterly updates the Health Care Classification System (SKS). In September 2023, the latest code changes were published to come into force on October 1, 2023. Four surgical procedure codes concerning extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were introduced.

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 11, 2024, the BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices) published the preliminary version of the 2024 OPS procedure coding classification. The OPS, together with the ICD-10-GM (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, German Modification), forms the basis for the reimbursement systems in inpatient and outpatient care in Germany.

On August 10, 2023, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins 191 and 087 with changes to be implemented no later than October 6, 2023. Five new procedure codes (concerning urogynecology, robotic surgery, and neuromodulation) and six new codes for in-vitro diagnostics were introduced.

On July 17, 2022, the Austrian Institute for HTA (AIHTA) published four decision support documents, which provide recommendations regarding the inclusion of new medical interventions in the catalog of individual medical services of the performance-oriented hospital financing (Leistungsorientierten Krankenanstaltenfinanzierung, LKF) model, as well as three updates to previous decision support documents.

On July 3, 2023, the document "Changes and innovations in the 2024 LKF model" (Änderungen und Neuerungen in den LKF-Modellen 2024) was published. The document summarizes the most significant changes and innovations in the LKF model for inpatient and outpatient care. The newly added procedure codes mainly concern endoscopic procedures, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, and pulmonary and airways fields.

The Danish Health Data Authority quarterly updates the Health Care Classification System (SKS), which includes coding for procedures, diagnoses, and other codes. The latest version was published in mid-June to come into force on July 1, 2023. Changes include the introduction of sixteen new surgical and 26 new medical procedure codes.