In-vitro diagnostic tests

In February and March 2025, the Common Catalog of Genetic and Genomic Tests of the National Health System was updated in Spain. A new section, “Hepatic diseases,” was added, including 24 tests for multiple hepatic diseases.

On February 21, 2025, the “New Method” framework published an annual summary of the Decision Forum and Ordering Forum work in 2024. Among 109 coverage decisions in 2024, only one was for Med Tech (Oncotype DX), while all others concerned pharmaceuticals.

On February 17, 2025, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins 200 and 096 with changes to be implemented no later than March 10, 2025. Thirty-five new procedure codes related to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nephrology, peripheral vascular, and general surgery areas and ten new diagnostic codes concerning in-vitro diagnostics, endoscopy, and pulmonology were introduced.

In February 2025, SBRI Healthcare, funded by the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative, announced the results of three competitions. Funding of £1.3m was allocated for the development of 14 innovations that support women’s health, £1m for the development of 11 innovations that improve infection prevention and control to mitigate the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and £3 million to support four innovations that improve the health and well-being of children and young people who have asthma, epilepsy, or diabetes.

In January 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released two Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned a clinical decision support tool for lower urinary tract symptom in men and multi-cancer early detection tests for general population screening. 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 NICE guidance.

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released four Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned cervical ripening during labor induction in different settings, fasciectomy surgery for Dupuytren's contracture in adults, hybrid closed-loop systems in type 1 diabetes, point-of-care tests for urinary tract infections. 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 NICE guidance.

In January 2025, the Common Catalog of Genetic and Genomic Tests of the National Health System was updated in Spain. A new section, “Respiratory medicine,” was added, including 29 tests for multiple respiratory diseases.

On December 24, 2024, the decision of the National Union of Health Insurance Funds (UNCAM) regarding the update of the CCAM Classification of procedure codes was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic. Changes include registration of three new procedure codes, modification of billing notes for certain procedures, and amendment of modifiers. The updates are expected to come into force on February 1, 2025.

In December 2024, the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) announced changes in the cervical cancer screening program starting from January 1, 2025. The key change is that in people aged 30 to 64 years, an HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test will be the primary for cervical cancer screening instead of a cytological examination. For this age group, HPV tests will be reimbursed every five years.

The Danish Health Data Authority quarterly updates the Health Care Classification System (SKS). The latest version was published in mid-December 2024 to come into force on January 1, 2025. Among other changes, thirty-two new procedure codes were introduced concerning diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, ENT, gastrointestinal, in-vitro diagnostics, neurology and neurosurgery, neuromodulation, surgical procedures, mental health, and some other fields.

On November 28, 2024, the updated version of the Finnish Laboratory Tests Nomenclature was published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to come into force on January 1, 2025. Six new codes were introduced.

On December 4, 2024, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) launched a consultation on whether to offer human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling option to under-screened people in the cervical cancer screening program alongside traditional clinician-collected sampling by a nurse or doctor. The deadline for comments submission is February 26, 2025.