UK

In late March 2023, NHS England released an annual update of HRG4+ Local Payment Grouper for 2023/24, to come into effect on April 1, 2023. No new HRGs were added. The HRG design has been updated to accommodate the latest version of procedure coding classification (OPCS-4.10).

In February 2023, the Scottish Health Technology Group, SHTG, released three MedTech-related assessments: selective internal radiation therapies (SIRT) for treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma, Feeling Good app, store-and-forward teledermatology for triage of primary care referrals.

In January-February 2023, Health Technology Wales published sixteen Medtech-related Topic Exploration Reports (TER), including stereotactic radiosurgery, percutaneous implantation of pulmonary artery pressure sensors, ambulatory patch ECG devices, and others; however, Health Technology Wales will not proceed with full appraisals on these topics. No Guidance was released for Medtech in January-February 2023.

In March 2023, a new ‘AI and Digital Regulations Service’ for developers and adopters of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies was launched in England. Four organizations provide this multi-agency advisory service: NICE, Care Quality Commission, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and Health Research Authority. The website is currently in public beta and focused on information for developers.

In February 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (transvenous obliteration for gastric varices, biodegradable spacer to reduce rectal toxicity during radiotherapy for prostate cancer), one new Health Technology Evaluation (guided self-help digital cognitive behavioural therapy), and two new Medtech Innovation Briefings (LIVERFASt, and Ambu aScope 4 RhinoLaryngo). Also, one new clinical guideline was published, and one was updated.

In February 2023, NHS England released the position statement on Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) for symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis in adults to support elective performance. Previously, NHS England was commissioning TAVI at high surgical risk. This new position statement sets criteria for intermediate and low-surgical risk patients who are eligible for TAVI.

In February 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 188 and 084 with changes to be implemented no later than March 23, 2023. Five new procedure codes (concerning interventional radiology, robotic surgery, and radiotherapy) and one new diagnostic code were introduced.

On February 03, 2023, the first UKs medical technology (Medtech) strategy was published by the new Medtech Directorate at the Department of Health and Social Care. The strategy sets the government's ambition to accelerate access to innovative medical technologies, outlines the vision for Medtech, and defines priority areas for action.

In February 2023, NICE completed its first early value assessment (EVA) within the medical technologies evaluation program concerning digital cognitive behavioral therapy. EVA guidance aimed to provide quicker conditional recommendations on promising medical technologies (digital products, medical devices, and diagnostics) that address unmet national needs while more evidence is generated.

In late January 2023, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (as of January 18, 2022). No new MedTech-related Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program. One new policy on catheter ablation for paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation was published since the previous update. The status of ongoing policies was updated as well.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, Health Technology Wales published three MedTech-related guidance (Left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with atrial fibrillation, continuous topical oxygen therapy, and virtual reality distraction therapy). Four Topic Exploration Reports were released as well (virtual wards, genetic testing for prostate cancer, autofluorescence imaging, and geniculate artery embolization); however, Health Technology Wales decided not to proceed with complete appraisals on these topics.

In January 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published four new Interventional Procedure Guidance (percutaneous image-guided cryoablation of peripheral neuroma, laparoscopic insertion of a magnetic ring, transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, and trabeculectomy with a biodegradable collagen matrix implant ), two new Diagnostic Guidance (devices for remote monitoring of Parkinson's disease, MRI-based technologies for assessing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), and three new Medtech Innovation Briefings (PredictSURE IBD, Ambu aScope 4 Broncho, and Aquablation robotic therapy). One MedTech-related clinical guideline was updated.