News and blog posts
04
Jan 2021
In December 2020, the Norwegian Directorate of Health published a final version of the DRG system (Innsatsstyrt finansiering, ISF) for 2021. The new DRGs cover the endocrine procedures, diabetes, and physical exercise therapy areas.
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01
Jan 2021
In December 2020, the law on the reform of the Mandatory Health Insurance system was signed by the President of the Russian Federation. The key changes are related to the role of the Medical Insurance Organizations – the current intermediatory between the Fund for Mandatory Medical Insurance and providers of care. From 2021, the Federal Fund will directly contract and provide financing to federal organizations, for provision of High End Medical Care (part 1 of the HEMC List, focused on care, integrated in the Mandatory Medical Insurance financing scheme).
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31
Dec 2020
In late December 2020, three more reimbursable health apps in the fields of management of fatigue, migraine and depression were introduced on the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). These applications can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers.
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30
Dec 2020
On December 22, 2020, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) announced a pilot project which concerns the remote monitoring of COVID-19 patients before and after their hospitalization as part of an integrated medical approach supported by digital applications.
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29
Dec 2020
The Danish Health Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen) updates the Health Care Classification System (Sundheds-væsenets Klassifikations System, SKS) quarterly. It publishes the updates on its website two weeks before the implementation, while the files with the changes are sent to the hospital systems. The most significant changes include new codes in the fields of ophthalmology, gynecology, COVID testing, and radiological imaging.
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28
Dec 2020
On December 22, 2020, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health announced the changes that will occur to the Services Ordinance (KLV/OPre). The changes concern the general part of the Services Ordinance (KLV/OPre), and all four of its Annexes, which define the coverage of services (List of explicitly evaluated services, List of Medical Aids and Equipment, List of Analyses, List of Medications with Tariff). The updates will enter into force on January 1, 2021. Updates concern among others bariatric surgery, Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation, ultrasound focused therapy for neurological indications.
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25
Dec 2020
In 2013, Norway established a framework “New Method” for the introduction of innovations into the health care system through either a national or hospital-based health technology assessment. In this framework, all innovations should undergo HTA before being funded. In the second half of 2020, eight new mini-HTA projects of medical technologies were launched in Norway: tissue allotransplantation, pain treatment via neuromodulation, among others.
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24
Dec 2020
The Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA) completed the research project “Framework for reimbursement decisions of digital health technologies (mHealth) and its (retrospective) application on selected examples”. The report was published in the middle of December 2020.
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23
Dec 2020
In November 2020, the General Directorate of Basic Package of National Health System and Pharmacy Services published the Resolution on the agreement of the Commission of Benefits, Insurance, And Financing in relation to the proton therapy technique. The key points of the agreement include the recommendation for the creation of an interdisciplinary committee in each autonomous community to evaluate each specific case of proton therapy and therapeutic indications.
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22
Dec 2020
In November 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new interventional procedure guidance (for swallowable gastric balloon capsule for weight loss), five Medtech innovation briefings (for QuickChange Incontinence Wrap for urinary incontinence in men, Magseed for locating breast cancer lesions, Dexcom G6 for continuous glucose monitoring, and others). Also, one clinical guidance (for acute coronary syndromes) was updated.
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21
Dec 2020
In late November 2020, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released an updated version of the National Laboratory code (NLK) system and associated tariffs that will be implemented not later than January 01, 2021. A total of 25 new codes were added in this version of NLK, 201 codes have been changed, and eight codes were inactivated. Six new codes for SARS-related coronavirus antigen and six new codes for SARS-CoV-2 antigen have been established.
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18
Dec 2020
In early December 2020, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare announced significant changes in the Swedish Classification of Health Care Measures (KVÅ) structure related to vascular surgery procedure codes. New Chapter V, “Operations on the aorta, peripheral vessels and lymphatic system,” will be introduced from January 2021, gathering all vascular surgical procedures previously located in several subchapters.
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