Telemedicine

Zorg van Nu information team published a brochure with regulations for stimulating digital care in the Netherlands. The brochure with the description of 16 schemes clearly explains which regulations are applicable for which e-health innovations.

The French High Authority for Health (HAS) develops clinical guidelines and recommendations whose objective is to guarantee the quality and safety of care delivery within the French setting. In the second quarter of 2019, clinical guidelines/recommendations have been developed for 16 topics.

After having identified the eligibility conditions for teleconsultation and teleexpertise in 2018, the French High Authority for Health (HAS) published a series of documents in late June 2019, for the operational deployment of eHealth services. Each of the new modalities of practice is discussed: teleconsultation, teleexpertise, and teleimaging. Also, the HAS proposed an information document to be given to patients before a teleconsultation.

The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has signed a further contract for scientific monitoring and implementation of a trial study for NYHA III heart failure therapy optimization by means of continuous blood pressure measurement and monitoring using an implanted sensor in the pulmonary artery.

On the Interterritorial Council that took place March 4th, 2019, the Working Plan for the Spanish Network for Health Technology Assessment was agreed and published. The working plan includes 22 health technology assessment reports, 7 monitoring studies, 9 clinical practice guidelines, and 1 evidence-based product.

In January 2019, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has selected four medical topics from citizens' suggestions for scientific assessment in the form of HTA reports (depression in children, mHealth solutions for multiple sclerosis, elephantiasis, and pain in endometriosis).

In late 2018, the French Ministry of Health announced that the telemedicine pilot project “ETAPES” will be maintained for four more years.

Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) has published the DBC product structure and maximum tariffs for specialist medical care for 2019. Healthcare providers and health insurers can start using it for the contract negotiations for 2019. The most important changes include reimbursement for telemonitoring consultation and reimbursement tariffs

The Dutch Healthcare Authority (Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit) has published a draft version of the DBC package for specialist medical care for 2019 (RZ19a).

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) released the final report on the assessment of benefit for telemonitoring of cardiac implantable electronic devices compared to a standard treatment without telemonitoring in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and / or heart failure. It was concluded that the benefits of the telemonitoring for patients with cardiac failure or heart rhythm disorders with a fast heart rate remain unclear.

The Dutch Healthcare Authority (Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit) has published a draft version of the DBC package for specialist medical care for 2019 (RZ19a).

The rules describe types of telemedicine systems used, type of care to be eligible for telemedicine services, interaction of medical personnel using telemedicine systems, approach for remote monitoring of condition of patient, and approach for documenting and storing information obtained using telemedicine technologies.