UK

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).

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New procedure codes concern repair of femoral hernia requiring removal of previously inserted mesh, transurethral non-ablative radiofrequency of bladder, minimally invasive mitral valve repair, two-stage revision of total hip replacement for infection and others. The codes are introduced with a recommended adoption date being the 1st of May 2020. The document also contains a list of textual changes in codes, unacceptable combinations, and inactivated codes. There were no changes to the CCSD Schedule of Diagnostic Tests.

Changes of structure in Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England were announced: in April 2020, 14 NHS England (Region, Local Offices) will be replaced by 42 sustainability and transformation partnerships as the Higher Level Health Authority in the organization reference data. The number of CCGs would also be changed (135 CCGs would leave).

Axonics sacral neuromodulation would be an option for people with symptoms of the overactive bladder who have not responded to conservative treatments or drug therapy. The Axonics could save the NHS around £6,200 per patient if the device lasts more than six years. Consultations are open to the stakeholders until March 13, 2020.

NICE published a draft Diagnostic guideline on the Reveal LINQ monitor. The monitor can be recommended for routine adoption under certain clinical criteria. The expected publication date of the final guideline is 27 May 2020.