Reimbursement

In January 2026, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) updated “Low variability care” (APR-DRG) system for 2026. Overall, no significant changes were made to the system: no new DRGs were introduced, and tariffs remained nearly unchanged.

In 2026, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) published the updated list of medical procedures reimbursed under basic health insurance with restrictions or limitations. The procedures have the so-called "claim" codes (aanspraakcodes). The Dutch Healthcare Authority assigns the "claim" codes based on positions published by the ZIN. The implemented changes included the introduction of two procedure codes for cryopreservation and storage of ovarian tissue.

In January 2026, the Budget Law 2026 entered into force in Italy, introducing healthcare-related measures, including provisions for National Health Fund financing, increased budgets for recruiting healthcare personnel, initiatives supporting prevention, research, as well as investments in regional healthcare services and digitalization.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new recommendations on the registration of medical devices and medical aids in the List of Reimbursable Products and Services (LPPR) following the December 2025 meetings of the National Commission for the Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS). Four favourable opinions were issued concerning add-on reimbursement for medical devices in the ENT, neuromodulation, and peripheral vascular fields.

In December 2025, the Danish Health Data Authority published the DRG tariff system (Takstsystem) guide, which provides an overall description of billing rules, tariffs, and grouping logic for 2026. Among other changes, 17 new DRGs were introduced in the nephrology and urology, obstetrics and gynecology, and some other fields.

On December 3, 2025, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health announced amendments to the Healthcare Benefit Ordinance, including its Annex 3 (the List of Analysis). The modifications include the creation of a new code for Dermatophytes testing by nucleic acid amplification.

On December 19, 2025, an order was issued registering the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation catheter in Title V of the List of Reimbursable Products and Services (LPPR), enabling add-on reimbursement for medical devices used in hospital settings. The Symplicity Spyral received a positive opinion for LPPR registration in December 2023, following transitional coverage under the French innovative payment scheme known as pre-LPPR since December 2022.

On December 5, 2025, the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI/RIZIV) updated the List of implants and invasive medical devices effective January 1, 2026. A new section “Cardiac defibrillator” was added with 15 new material codes for single-chamber cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), dual-chamber ICDs, cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D), subcutaneous cardiac defibrillators, and electrodes. A new Nominative list was created with eligible branded devices in connection with new material codes for cardiac defibrillators.

On December 10, 2025, the Ministry of Health published the Decree for the update of classification systems for diagnosis and procedure coding, effective in 2027, with updates scheduled at least every two years and the continued use of ICD-10-IM until the transition to ICD-11. Implementation will proceed through a pilot phase in 2025 and a nationwide rollout in 2026, supported by conversion tools from ICD-9-CM to ensure continuity, with ICD-9-CM entirely discontinued as of January 1, 2027.

In mid-December 2025, a new version of the Common Classification of Medical Procedures (CCAM v.81), effective January 1, 2026, was published. Multiple changes were implemented, including the introduction of four new procedure codes, the provisional registration of four codes, the deletion of a few codes, the modification of tariffs for numerous activities/phases, and the amendment of existing services.

On November 20, 2025, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced that Annex 2 of the updated German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM) catalog, scheduled for publication on January 1, 2026, will be expanded to include additional interventional procedures.

In December 2025, the Danish Health Data Authority published the DRG tariffs for 2026. In accordance with the released documentation, one new DRG will be introduced in 2026.