Radiofrequency ablation

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new recommendations about add-on reimbursement of medical devices and medical aids from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in July 2024. Nine recommendations were published concerning the registration of medical devices in the List of Reimbursable Products and Services (LPPR). Opinions concern cardiovascular, neurovascular, interventional radiology, nephrology and urology, orthopedic, endocrine devices, and in-vitro diagnostic tests, as well as medical aids.

In July 2024, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) approved a new agreement (Convention) allowing reimbursement for percutaneous CT-guided ablation of renal, hepatic, pulmonary, and bone tumors. The agreement will come into force on November 1, 2024, and will be valid until October 31, 2029.

In June 2024, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment announced that two rapid hospital assessments in the extracorporeal treatments and endoscopy fields and one Digi-HTA were accomplished.

In December 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released two MedTech-related assessments in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned ablative and non-surgical therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma and hidradenitis suppurativa treatment. 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 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

On December 1, 2023, the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI/RIZIV) updated several articles of the Nomenclature. New procedure codes with reimbursement fees and associated conditions concerning cardiovascular, neurology, and obstetrics fields were added.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new recommendations about add-on reimbursement of medical devices and medical aids from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in November 2023. Seven recommendations were published in relation to the registration of medical devices in the List of reimbursable products and services (LPPR). Opinions concern cardiovascular, nephrology and urology, and orthopedic devices, as well as medical aids.

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues three types of documents: full HTA reports, rapid HTA reports, and motivational forms. With regional decree 24192 of November 15, 2023, Tuscany Regional Healthcare published one assessment and one re-assessment of medical devices in the cardiovascular and men's health areas.

In June 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Interventional Procedure Guidance (intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy, minimally invasive fusionless posterior-approach surgery to correct idiopathic scoliosis, endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage, radiofrequency denervation for osteoarthritic knee pain, and Botulinum toxin type A injections into the urethral sphincter), two new Diagnostic Guidance (transperineal biopsy for prostate cancer, and FibroScan for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis), and two Medtech Innovation Briefings (MiraQ cardiac TTFM, Proov Confirm; their development started before April 2023). Also, four clinical guidelines were updated.

In May 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released two MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which endoscopic radiofrequency ablation in malignant biliary obstruction and screening for ovarian cancer. 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 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

In April 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published seven new Interventional Procedure Guidance (concerned Daytime intraoral neuromuscular electrical tongue stimulation, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage, maximal cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer, percutaneous thoracic duct embolization, radiofrequency ablation for spinal metastases, high-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer), one new Medical Technologies Guidance (AposHealth for knee osteoarthritis), and one Medtech Innovation Briefing (Fasciotens for abdominal wall closure). Also, three clinical guidelines were updated.

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.