News and blog posts
07
Jan 2021
In December 2020, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation has expanded the Nomenclature of medical services in Russia. Section II of "Nomenclature of medical services" will contain new procedure codes that relate to medical interventions in obstetrics and gynecology.
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06
Jan 2021
In December 2020, Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council decided to evaluate new technologies for self-monitoring of atrial fibrillation within the Orderly introduction framework. MTP Council commissioned the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) to perform a health-economic evaluation of Coala Heart Monitor Pro and KardiaMobile; however, other products may also be considered later.
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05
Jan 2021
On December 18, 2020, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) published the detailed application form for the Subsidy Scheme for Promising Care with explanatory notes. The closing date for submitting grant applications is March 2, 2021.
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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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