In-vitro diagnostic tests

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.

On November 23, 2024, the Norwegian Directorate of Health released an updated version of the Norwegian Laboratory Code (NLK) system and associated tariffs to be implemented no later than January 1, 2025. Thirty-two new codes were added in the biochemistry, microbiology, clinical pharmacology, and immunology fields.

On November 29, 2024, the Ministry of Health and Access to Care published an Order outlining the requirements for application files to request coverage of innovative biology or pathology procedures within the new RIHN 2.0 framework. The Order concerns the application file model and list of supporting documents for coverage requests

On December 2, 2024, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health published the changes that will occur to the Healthcare Benefit Ordinance (KLV/OPre), which determines coverage of medical services in Switzerland. The updates will enter into force on January 1, 2025, and they relate to the list of explicitly evaluated services (Annex 1 of KLV/OPre), outpatient-before-hospital services (Annex 1a), List of Tools and Equipment (Annex 2), and the List of Analyses (Annex 3).

On November 14, 2024, the State-Regions Conference approved the Decree with the new national LEA tariffs for outpatient specialist care and prosthetic care presented by the Italian Ministry of Health. The effective date of new tariffs is December 30, 2024.

In November 2024, the following ongoing mini-HTA assessments for cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, gastrointestinal, in-vitro diagnostics, interventional radiology, men’s health, pulmonary and airways, robotic surgery, and some other fields are evaluated as a part of a framework for the managed introduction of innovations "New Methods" in Norway.

On October 31, 2024, the Swiss Federal Statistics Office (UFS) released the systematic version of the procedure code (CHOP) nomenclature for 2025. The nomenclature is now available in German, Italian, and French languages and will come into force on January 1, 2025. Multiple new procedure codes were introduced in various fields, including endoscopy, extracorporeal treatments, in-vitro diagnostics, interventional radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, and radiotherapy.

In October 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released seven Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned the Genedrive kit, timing of stoma closure in neonates, interventions in perceptual disorders after stroke, revascularisation strategy for chronic limb ischemia, MRI software and cognitive fusion biopsies in prostate cancer, transperineal prostate biopsy devices, and ultraviolet therapy in severe eczema. 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.