Pulmonary diseases

On July 15, 2022, the Austrian Institute for HTA (AIHTA) published five 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 four updates to previous decision support documents. The decisions relate mainly to cardiovascular and gastrointestinal technology groups.

In July 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (transcatheter tricuspid valve annuloplasty for tricuspid regurgitation, and transcatheter tricuspid valve leaflet repair for tricuspid regurgitation), one new Diagnostic Guidance (PLGF-based testing to help diagnose suspected preterm pre-eclampsia), and four new Medtech Innovation Briefings (ProciseDx point-of-care platform for IBD, RespiraSense for continuously monitoring respiratory rate, Lenus COPD Support Service, and cyanoacrylate glue for hernia mesh fixation). Also, five clinical guidelines were updated.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on July 1, 2022. The most significant changes concern introducing and updating multiple EBM codes for IVD tests and adjusting tariffs and content of radiotherapy services.

On June 7, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the overview of the 32 innovative healthcare research projects that will be funded. The projects concerning the technologies belonging to eHealth, obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonary and airways, orthopedics, and other technology groups received funding.

In December 2021, the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) finished the theme survey in the obstructive pulmonary diseases field, which was conducted as a part of the Orderly Introduction for Medical Technologies framework. Identified technologies could potentially be included in the Orderly Introduction of Medical Technologies framework, which aims to facilitate the introduction of novel technologies on the national level.

In late November 2021, the INeK (Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System) has published the DRG catalog (Fallpauschalen-Katalog) with the list of DRGs and add-on reimbursement categories (ZEs) for 2022. Seven new DRGs and seventeen ZE categories were added to the catalog in 2022.

On September 23, 2021, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) published the National bundle of care for children and young people with asthma, which is phase one of a plan to support Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in delivering high-quality asthma care.

In late September 2021, the Danish Health Data Agency (Sundhedsstyrelsen) has published the update of the Health Care Classification System (Sundheds-væsenets Klassifikations System, SKS). The most significant changes include: 31 new diagnosis codes and 14 procedure codes were added. The newly added procedure codes concern mainly pulmonary and airways area and neuromodulation procedures.

On September 20, 2021, Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council announced ongoing horizon scanning for medical technology products used in obstructive lung diseases within the Orderly introduction framework. The Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) initiated a theme survey, accepting suggestions until October 15, 2021.

In August 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (magnetic resonance therapy for knee osteoarthritis, laparoscopic removal of uterine fibroids with power morcellation, hysteroscopic mechanical tissue removal for uterine fibroids), and six new Medtech Innovation Briefings (PLASMA system with button electrode, Immunoscore, MMprofiler, Patient Status Engine, lung texture analysis, Colli-Pee). Also, five clinical guidelines were published.

In June 2021, twelve clinical guidelines were released in Russia: perforated ulcer, bronchial asthma, multiple pregnancy, and others. Furthermore, the orders on the approval of the several standards of medical care entered into force, including standards for the provision of medical care for adults with ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation and flutter, and pulmonary hypertension, including chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

For the first time in three years, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) received data within the framework of the early benefit assessment of new examination and treatment methods (NUB) with high-risk medical devices according to §137h of Social Code Book (SGB) V. This involves seven invasive therapeutic cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, gastrointestinal, and urological procedures.