Pulmonary diseases

On November 14, 2023, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) published the DRG catalog (Fallpauschalen-Katalog) with the list of DRGs and additional reimbursement categories (ZEs) for 2024.

In November 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published four new Interventional Procedure Guidance (percutaneous thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism, percutaneous transarterial carotid artery stent placement for asymptomatic extracranial carotid stenosis, biodegradable subacromial spacer insertion for rotator cuff tears, extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal for acute respiratory failure) and one Health Technology Evaluation using early value assessment (virtual reality technologies for treating agoraphobia or agoraphobic avoidance). Also, five clinical guidelines were updated.

In July 2023, the ZIN announced one more project awarded under round 7 of the Promising care subsidy scheme in 2023. Two more projects within this round were awarded at the end of March 2023. The new project relates to bronchial thermoplasty and will last six years.

n the period of April-May 2023, the Galician Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AVALIA-T) initiated the five health technology assessments referred to IVD, nephrology and urology, obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonary and airways as well as surgical procedures technology groups. The assessments on stereotactic virtual navigation system for percutaneous puncture as well as tumor ablation and invasive telemonitoring of pulmonary pressure in patients with heart failure were released.

On March 8, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Prevention published an Order in the Official Journal of the French Republic on the coverage of the INTERVAPOR system for lung volume reduction under Forfait innovation program.

In January and February 2023, five 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 sickness funds.

On December 26, 2022, three 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 sickness funds.

The new version of the classification of procedure codes (CCAM v.71), applicable from December 03, 2022, was published in France. Several changes were introduced, including the creation of four new codes related to ENT, pulmonary and airways, and interventional radiology areas. Also, the modification of tariffs for 50 dental procedure codes will enter into force on January 01, 2023.

On November 3, 2022, the decision of the National Union of Health Insurance Funds relating to the update of the CCAM Nomenclature of procedure codes was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic. Four new procedure codes were introduced. The codes relate to the procedures of implantation and removal of the bone conduction hearing aid and destruction of bronchopulmonary tumors by radiofrequency.

In October 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (YAG laser vitreolysis for symptomatic vitreous floaters, transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve for treating and preventing migraine), one Medical Technologies Guidance (Magtrace and Sentimag system for locating sentinel lymph nodes for breast cancer) and three new Medtech Innovation Briefings (O2matic PRO 100, Daylight, Signatera). Also, one new clinical guideline was published on osteoarthritis.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on October 1, 2022. The most significant changes concern introducing the EBM codes for several IVD tests and a new service in artificial insemination.

On August 11, 2022, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced that two new services in the in-vitro diagnostics field in lung and colon cancer, respectively, will be reimbursed via the German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM).