Reimbursement

In June 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 190 and 086 with changes to be implemented no later than August 4, 2023. Fourteen new procedure codes (concerning cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, endocrine, endoscopy, gastrointestinal, orthopedic and spine, peripheral vascular, robotic surgery, men's health, and radiotherapy fields) and six new diagnostic codes were introduced.

On June 6, 2023, Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI/RIZIV) introduced a new convention to reimburse aspirational and mechanical thrombectomy catheters for arterial thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, arteriovenous fistula, and pulmonary embolism. Funding will only be provided if there is a shortage of thrombolytic drugs in Belgium.

On June 1, 2023, NHS England issued an updated version of the National Genomic Test Directory, which lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. Three new codes (test-indication combinations) were introduced in the Test Directory for rare and inherited diseases.

On June 5, 2023, the application window for submitting applications for changes in the Swiss nomenclature of surgical procedures (CHOP), as well as for the SwissDRG system, was open. The deadline for submission of CHOP applications is September 17, while the deadline for SwissDRG submissions is July 17.

On June 01, 2023, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) announced the start of the application period for the evaluation of procedures and IVD tests to be included in 2024 HAS working program.

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 May 2023. Twenty-one 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 and peripheral vascular, endocrine, ENT, gastrointestinal, and orthopedic devices, as well as medical aids.

On May 23, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Prevention published an Order in the Official Journal of the French Republic setting the tariffs for the medical telemonitoring activities covered by social health insurance in the context of the new framework. The tariffs will differ whether they bring an organizational or clinical (improvement in quality of life, morbidity, or mortality) benefit.

On May 17, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Prevention published the 2023-2027 Digital Health Roadmap. The new roadmap specifies the priorities and the projects to be carried out by 2027. One of the key objectives is to support the implementation and extension of telemonitoring to more chronic pathologies.

In late May 2023, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released an updated version of the Norwegian Laboratory code (NLK) system to be implemented no later than July 1, 2023. A total of 142 new codes were added, 33 codes were terminated, and 122 codes were amended.

On May 17, 2023, NHS England issued an updated version of the National Genomic Test Directory for cancer, which lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. Two new codes (test-indication combinations) were introduced.

Between late April and May 2023, 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 health insurers. In total, 47 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

On May 03, 2023, the HAS invited professional organizations and patient associations to submit their applications for inclusion of the topics in the HAS 2024 work program. This is related only to requests to develop new/update existing HAS recommendations and not to the creation of novel procedure codes.