In-vitro diagnostic tests

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. In February new codes for genetic tests and immunological tests for infections were added to the CCSD Schedule.

According to the recommendation of the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), hospitals and clinics should not offer screening for prostate cancer with PSA tests with or without other supplementary tests before tissue sampling. The recommendation is based on that the benefit of screening for prostate cancer with PSA tests does not outweigh the negative effects on a population level.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. In January new codes for Anti C1Q antibodies, soluble CD25, umbilical Cord Ph Level and several genetic tests were added to the CCSD Schedule.

Ninety-two new codes have been implemented, including protein fractions and reproductive medicine tests.

In the first half of January, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Medtech innovation briefings for in vitro diagnostic test for determining breast cancer subtypes, point-of-care creatinine tests before contrast-enhanced imaging, plasma EGFR mutation tests for adults with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, smartphone otoscope and sequencing panel for solid tumour cancers in children .

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. In November new codes for allergy diagnostics, diagnostic profiles for certain diseases and detection of antibodies against Chlamydia were added to the CCSD Schedule.

In the first half of November, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedures guidance (for total distal radioulnar joint replacement in symptomatic joint instability or arthritis and extracranial to intracranial bypass in intracranial atherosclerosis), one new diagnostics guidance for tests to identify people at high risk of ovarian cancer and four new Medtech innovation briefings.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New codes were added for nitrogen washout test for lung capacity and fractional flow reserve CT measurement.

Following the request of a patient organization, the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) evaluated the newborn screening for tyrosinemia type I by tandem mass spectrometry and decided to include the method into the relevant guideline. Before the method can be applied and reimbursed in the statutory health insurance (SHI) in Germany, the Genetic Diagnostics Act requires approval by the Genetic Diagnostics Commission (GEKO).

In June of 2017, the Ordering Forum RHF commissioned rapid method assessment for the Prosigna test. Only when the Norwegian Institute of Public Health receives documentation from the suppliers they carry out a quick method assessment. On 16th of the October, suppliers were requested to submit data to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) regarding clinical efficacy, safety and economics of Prosigna test.

On 25th of September, the Norwegian Decision Forum of “New Methods” had a meeting to review several medical technologies and IVD tests. Decisions were made in relation to the introduction of 2 new newborn screening tests, prehospital emergency thoracotomy, aortic valve replacement using sutureless stent Perceval, and digital breast tomosynthesis.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New diagnostic codes cover different indications and analytical methods.