In-vitro diagnostic tests

The LEA catalog was brought in 2017, but the tariffs were approved in 2023. The new tariffs for outpatient specialist care were supposed to enter into force on January 1, 2024, but the adoption of new tariffs was postponed to April 1, 2024, due to the technical inability of the Regions to implement the change in time.

In January 2024, eight NHS Genomic Networks of Excellence were launched within the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS). NHS England is funding these innovative networks to develop the evidence and model of adoption for cutting-edge genomic advances and technology applications and inform commissioning decisions.

In January 2024, NHS England issued an updated version of the National Genomic Test Directory for 2024/2025, which lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. Six new codes (test-indication combinations) were introduced in the Test Directory for cancer, and four new codes in the Test Directory for rare and inherited diseases.

In December 2023, the reimbursement scheme for outpatient pathology services was updated for 2024. This scheme has been gradually introduced in Norway since 2022. It comprises fee-for-service reimbursement by the Norwegian Health Economics Administration (Helfo) using Pathology Activity Codes (APAT). Fourteen new reimbursement codes were introduced.

On December 18, 2023, the updated version of the laboratory test nomenclature was published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to come into force on January 1, 2024. Sixty new codes were introduced concerning in-vitro diagnostics and functional diagnostic tests in the cardiology, pulmonology, and gastroenterology fields.

In December 2023, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins with changes to be implemented no later than February 12, 2024. Five new procedure codes (concerning endoscopy, gastrointestinal, and spine) and one new in-vitro diagnostic code were introduced.

On December 21, 2023, the revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog for the first quarter of 2024 was published. The most significant changes concern the update of Annex 2 of the catalog, the introduction of the new EBM codes for external electrical cardioversion in adult and pediatric patients, follow-up and evaluation of the health app companion patella, as well as a companion diagnostics test for genotyping to determine CYP2C19 metabolism status.

On November 29, 2023, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health published the changes that will occur to the Services Ordinance (KLV/OPre), which determines coverage of medical services in Switzerland. The updates will enter into force on January 1 or July 1, 2024, 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 List of Analyses (Annex 3).

In November 2023, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released an updated version of the Norwegian Laboratory Code (NLK) system and associated tariffs to be implemented no later than January 1, 2024. Eighty-four new codes were added, 77 codes were amended, and 32 codes were terminated.

On November 30, 2023, the entity managing the DRG system in Switzerland, SwissDRG, published the final version of the 2024 DRG system. In total, 34 new DRGs were introduced, and they concern cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, men’s health, nephrology and urology, neurology and neurosurgery, neuromodulation, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, pulmonary, and some other technology groups. Also, two new add-on reimbursement categories were introduced.

In November 2023, the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) announced the budget reduction for reimbursement of clinical laboratory services by 15% from January 2024. INAMI-RIZIV considers this reimbursement still sufficient and will reallocate released funds to other projects in health care. The reduction will not impact molecular biological and genetic testing.

In October 2023, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins with changes to be implemented no later than December 7, 2023. Eight new procedure codes (concerning endoscopy, gastrointestinal, interventional radiology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and men's health) and three new diagnostic codes were introduced.