In-vitro diagnostics

In January 2023, the updated Pathology Activity Codes (APAT) of the Norwegian Pathology Code system (NORPAT) came into force. Since 2022, APAT codes have been included in the new reimbursement scheme by Helfo (the Norwegian Health Economics Administration) for outpatient pathology services. Five new classified sample materials for cytology and 22 new additional codes for the method of testing were added to the scheme in 2023.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on January 1, 2023. The most significant changes concern introducing the EBM codes for several IVD tests and further promoting outpatient (day case) surgical services.

On December 16, 2022, a decision of the National Union of Health Insurance Funds (UNCAM) relating to the update of the NABM Nomenclature for IVD tests was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic. Various changes were introduced, including the inclusion of new codes, modifications of the existing ones, and tariff changes.

On December 1, 2022, 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, 2023, 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 Appliances(Annex 2), and List of Analyses (Annex 3).

On November 17, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Prevention published the Order in the Official Journal of the French Republic on the extension of the national newborn screening by laboratory diagnostics to seven more diseases (inborn errors of metabolism).

On October 19, 2022, it was announced by the Ministry of Health that the 2023 General State Budget in the field of health would comprise €2,746.17 million, which is €199.32 million (7.83%) more than in 2022. The aim is to strengthen the National Health System (SNS) and achieve a more robust, more equitable, and more modern system capable of adapting to the population's health needs.

On March 16, 2022, NHS England launched a strategy for embedding genomics in the NHS over the next five years. The ambition is to accelerate the use of genomic medicine across the NHS, providing a world-leading, equitable service to populations and individuals.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on October 1, 2022. The most significant changes concern introducing the EBM codes for several IVD tests and a new service in artificial insemination.

On August 25, 2022, the Norwegian Directorate of Health announced the launch of the National screening program for colorectal cancer (Bowel screening program - Tarmscreeningprogrammet). All 55-year-old men and women will be included in the program and offered a test to identify invisible blood in the stool (fecal immunochemical test, FIT) every two years until the age of 65. Colonoscopy will be offered in case of positive FIT.

In August 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Interventional Procedure Guidance (aortic remodeling hybrid stent insertion during surgical repair of aortic dissection, bioresorbable stent implantation to treat coronary artery disease, superficial venous arterialization for chronic limb ischemia, transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation for urinary incontinence, focal resurfacing implants to treat articular cartilage damage in the knee), and three new Medtech Innovation Briefings (Stockholm3 for prostate cancer screening, contrast-enhanced spectral mammography, differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation). Also, two Medical Technologies Guidance and two Medtech-related clinical guidelines were updated.

On August 11, 2022, NHS England and NHS Improvement released an updated National Genomic Test Directory for rare and inherited diseases (version 3.1), which lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. No new codes (test-indication combinations) were introduced.

On August 11, 2022, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) announced that two new services in the in-vitro diagnostics field in lung and colon cancer, respectively, will be reimbursed via the German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM).