UK

NHSX provides funding through 'Techforce 19' to innovators who can find digital ways to benefit those in need of help, including those in need of mental health support and social care. The technology is intended to help people who might be most impacted by the long term effects of remaining housebound during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March-April, MTRC introduced a number of changes in the educational seminars on reimbursement systems in the Czech Republic and England and released additional modules about reimbursement of in-vitro diagnostic tests in Russia and Turkey.

In April 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published only one new medical technologies guidance (for PneuX to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia) and two Medtech innovation briefings (for Lifelight First for monitoring vital signs and myCOPD for self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New procedure codes concern pediatric cataract involving lensectomy with or without lens implant, pediatric cataract involving lens aspiration and implant, delivery of a fraction MR Linac adaptive planned radiotherapy, low-level laser therapy for inflammation/pain relief and others. The codes are introduced with a recommended adoption date being the 1st of May 2020. The documents also contain a list of textual changes in codes and unacceptable combinations.

In March 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published four new interventional procedure guidance (for bilateral cervicosacropexy or vaginosacropexy using mesh for pelvic organ prolapse, cyanoacrylate glue occlusion for varicose veins, MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy and selective internal radiation therapy for unresectable colorectal metastases in the liver) and five Medtech innovation briefings (for Cor-Knot for tying suture knots in valve surgery, artificial intelligence for analyzing CT brain scans and others).

On 17 March 2020, NHS England announced that block contracts would be used to cover the period 1 April – 31 July, as the national tariff is suspended. Contractual arrangements for 2020/21 with NHS trusts/NHS foundation trusts and with non-NHS providers operating under the NHS Standard Contract were published.

OPCS-4 is a statistical classification for clinical coding of hospital interventions and procedures undertaken by the NHS. On 4 November 2019, OPCS 4.9 Classification of Interventions and Procedures was released. The implementation date is 1 April 2020.

On March 5, 2020, the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) announced the 11 high impact innovations that will enter the national accelerator in 2020. As outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan, the technologies that enter the award-winning NIA provide solutions that help prioritize areas for NHS.

On 22 January 2020, the consultation on proposals for a national tariff for 2020/21 closed. However, the release of the 2020/21 tariff has been postponed due to the NHS response to COVID-19. NHS will report publishing details at the earliest opportunity.

NHSX is creating a Digital Health Technology Standard to enhance the way the NHS assesses digital technology for use by patients and staff. It is meant to help developers understand what is required of them, and simplify and streamline how health technologies are assessed and commissioned for use in the NHS. The consultation continues until 22 April 2020 Wednesday.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Health Technology Wales (HTW) have formally committed to work together to enhance their independent and authoritative Guidance on non-medicine technologies. On March 3, 2020, it was announced about the collaboration of these two organizations.

In February 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new diagnostics guidance (for SepsiTest assay for rapidly identifying bloodstream bacteria and fungi), one new medical technologies guidance (for Episcissors-60 for mediolateral episiotomy) and two Medtech innovation briefings (for Plus Sutures for preventing surgical site infection and National Early Warning Score systems that alert to deteriorating adult patients in hospital).