UK

In January 2022, the Scottish Health Technology Group released a recommendation of the closed-loop systems and the artificial pancreas for type one diabetes mellitus. The limited use of closed-loop systems in routine clinical care makes it difficult to estimate device-related adverse event rates. No evidence was identified for artificial pancreas systems (multi-hormone closed-loop systems) available on the UK market.

On January 18, 2022, NHS England and Improvement released guidance on point-of-care testing (POCT) in community pharmacies. It describes the consistent standards and safe environment for the use of POCT equipment and devices for diagnosis, monitoring, and screening in community pharmacy, to guide both commissioners of NHS services and community pharmacies.

On January 20, 2022, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) launched a consultation on the latest set of guidance (List 3) of the Evidence-based Interventions (EBI) Programme. EBI program develops guidance sets (Lists) for tests, treatments, and procedures based on recommendations from the Expert Advisory Committee and NICE assessments. Proposed List 3 covers 17 interventions across a range of medical specialties, including cardiology, ophthalmology, urology, and others. The deadline for comments submission is March 31, 2022.

In December 2021, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins 0181 and 0078 with changes to be implemented no later than February 01, 2022. Seven new procedure codes and four new diagnostic codes were introduced.

In December 2021, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in England released two MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned improving continence in children and young people with neurodisability, and augmented trabeculectomy in glaucoma. 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 December 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (endobronchial nerve ablation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer), two new Medical Technologies Guidance (ClearGuard HD antimicrobial barrier caps, and Endo-SPONGE for treating low rectal anastomotic leak), and one new Medtech Innovation Briefings (FreeO2 automatic oxygen titration). Also, one new clinical guideline was published, and five were updated.

In December 2021, NHSX announced that the new elective recovery tech fund would support over 400 innovative digital technologies. The fund has been established to help NHS organizations accelerate the uptake of digitally supported elective care. Up to £250 million has been made available to Integrated Care Systems as a part of a £700 million Targeted Investment Fund intended to speed up elective recovery and tackle waiting lists.

On December 17, 2021, NHS Digital released HRG4+ Consultation Grouper for 2022/23. This release is used to support the NHS England and Improvement consultation process for the 2022/23 National Tariff Payment System. In general, there are significant changes in base HRG design. A total of 120 new HRGs were created, multiple HRGs were removed, and the grouping logic was updated significantly. This Consultation Grouper will be superseded by the 2022/23 Local Payment Grouper in March 2022, for use from April 01, 2022.

In November 2021, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in England released three MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned delivery for preterm birth, thoracolumbar fracture, and knee replacement. 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 early December 2021, NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative announced seven technologies that will be covered by the MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM) in 2022/23: four for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment (UroLift, GreenLight XPS, Rezum, and PLASMA system), and three for improving the patient experience during procedures (XprESS multi-sinus dilation system, Thopaz+, and Spectra Optia). Four technologies included in 2021/22 (placental growth factor-based testing, SecurAcath, HeartFlow, and gammaCore) will continue to be supported.

In November 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (percutaneous implantation of pulmonary artery pressure sensors in chronic heart failure and coronary sinus narrowing device implantation for refractory angina), one new Medical Technologies Guidance (Synergo for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer), one new Diagnostic Guidance (SeHCAT for diagnosing bile acid diarrhea), and four new Medtech Innovation Briefings (clonoSEQ for minimal residual disease, CerebAir for continuous EEG monitoring, 24/7 EEG SubQ for epilepsy, Paige Prostate for prostate cancer). Also, three new clinical guidelines were published, and six were updated.

In November 2021, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England, has published Bulletins 0180 and 0077 with changes to be implemented no later than February 01, 2022. Four new procedure codes related to neurology, spinal procedures, cancer pharmacotherapy, and ophthalmology, and three new diagnostic codes were introduced.