UK

In September 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released one MedTech-related report in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned early computed tomography coronary angiography in acute coronary syndrome. 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 September 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (removal, preservation and subsequent reimplantation of ovarian tissue, prostatic urethral temporary implant insertion, neurostimulation of lumbar muscles), and one new Medtech Innovation Briefings (iTind). Also, one Medical Technologies Guidance and three Medtech-related clinical guidelines were updated.

In August 2022, the Scottish Health Technology Group, SHTG, released two MedTech-related assessments: vCreate Neuro for the diagnosis and management of adults and children with epilepsy and other neurological disorders and Bluetooth Tagging of medical equipment.

NHS England is currently developing a Service Specification for NHS Clinical Genomic Services (NHS CGSs). On September 01, 2022, draft Service Specification and supporting documents were published for consultation. The deadline for comments submission is September 30, 2022.

On September 01, 2022, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (as of August 24, 2022). Two new MedTech-related Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program (transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of the mitral valve, pectus surgery for really severe pectus), and no new policies were published. The status of ongoing policies was updated as well.

In August 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released two MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence after prostate surgery and closure techniques after surgery for colorectal 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 August 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Interventional Procedure Guidance (aortic remodeling hybrid stent insertion during surgical repair of aortic dissection, bioresorbable stent implantation to treat coronary artery disease, superficial venous arterialization for chronic limb ischemia, transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation for urinary incontinence, focal resurfacing implants to treat articular cartilage damage in the knee), and three new Medtech Innovation Briefings (Stockholm3 for prostate cancer screening, contrast-enhanced spectral mammography, differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation). Also, two Medical Technologies Guidance and two Medtech-related clinical guidelines were updated.

On August 11, 2022, NHS England and NHS Improvement released an updated National Genomic Test Directory for rare and inherited diseases (version 3.1), which lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. No new codes (test-indication combinations) were introduced.

In August 2022, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins 0185 and 0082 with changes to be implemented no later than October 11, 2022. Seven new procedure codes (for photodynamic therapy to skin lesions, patch continuous ECG recording, shoulder stabilization procedure, and ear reconstruction) and no new diagnostic codes.

On August 09, 2022, NICE updated the Evidence standards framework for digital health technologies, initially published in 2018. Artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies with adaptive algorithms are now included in the framework and user guide. NICE also aligned digital health technology classifications with regulatory requirements and outlined a subset of early deployment standards that can be used within evidence generation programs.

In the second quarter of 2022, Health Technology Wales (HTW) published four MedTech-related guidance (extreme hypofractionated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer, video laryngoscopes for use in pre-hospital care, electronic blood management systems, and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma). A total of 12 MedTech-related Topic Exploration Reports (TERs) were released in Q2. Based on the TERs conclusions, HTW decided to proceed with a full appraisal on three topics – photobiomodulation, topical oxygen therapy (NATROX) in chronic wounds, and video feedback interventions.

In June 2022, NHS Digital published a draft summary of core changes in OPCS-4.10, which will be implemented from April 01, 2023. OPCS-4 is a statistical classification for clinical coding of interventions and procedures undertaken within the NHS updated every three years. A total of 32 new three-character category codes and 228 four-character sub-category codes are proposed for the introduction.