Reimbursement

In late September 2023, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released an updated version of the Norwegian Laboratory Code (NLK) system and associated tariffs to be implemented no later than November 1, 2023. A total of 123 new codes were added, 50 codes were terminated, and 69 codes were amended.

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.

Between late May and early September 2023, two 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 health insurers. In total, 49 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

On August 24, 2023, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) informed that new services for serological diagnostics of Toxoplasma infection will be included in the German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM) catalog since October 1, 2023.

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 August 2023. Eight recommendations were published in relation to the registration, modification of registration conditions, and renewal of registration for devices in the List of reimbursable products and services (LPPR). Opinions concern cardiovascular, peripheral vascular and neurovascular devices, as well as medical aids.

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.

The Essential Levels of Care defines outpatient specialist care and prosthetic care guaranteed to the Italian population. Although the LEA document was brought in 2017, the national tariffs for outpatient specialist and prosthetic care were approved in April 2023. The tariffs for the 2017 LEA catalog (to be in use from January 2024) were updated with the Decree of the Ministry of Health published in the Official Gazette on 4 August 2023

On July 25, 2023, the final version of the DRG manual for 2023 was published. Introduced changes relate to the MDC14, coding of gender in patients under three months of age, and performance of acts inconsistent with the declared sex in transsexual patients.

On July 31, 2023, the National Committee for the evaluation of medical devices and health technologies (CNEDiMTS) at the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published the first positive opinion on the “Early coverage of digital medical devices” (PECAN) framework. The positive opinion is provided to CUREETY TECHCARE medical telemonitoring solution, which is used for medical telemonitoring of adult cancer patients under systemic treatment and/or treated with radiotherapy.

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 2023. Sixteen recommendations were published in relation to the registration, modification of registration conditions, and renewal of registration for devices in the List of reimbursable products and services (LPPR). Opinions concern neuromodulation and surgical devices, as well as medical aids.

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 07, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Prevention announced the implementation of the transitional period for innovative technologies following the experiment under Article 51 of the Social Security Financing Act.