NHS England has opened a consultation on the proposed approach to updating the National Genomic Test Directory set out in the consultation document. The deadline for comments submission is November 17, 2020.

The Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) is conducting research towards a faster, substantiated decision on the reimbursement of innovative medical products. The project started in 2019 and is still being conducted.

MTRC maintains two subscription services with a focus on all published, initiated or ongoing HTA and reimbursement reports and decisions for medical devices, procedures and IVD tests. HTA Alerts is a global service and covers 56 organizations from 24 countries. Reimbursement Alerts is focused on 14 key European countries. All alerts are tailed to the technologies of interest for each client. First EU issues of both newsletters are available for download free-of-charge.

On October 14, 2020, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) announced the ongoing update of the submission file guides to support companies who requested reimbursement for medical devices with a system of machine learning (artificial intelligence).

In October 2020, a completed mini-method assessment for the coronary sinus reducer stent (Neovasc) implantation in refractory angina pectoris treatment was published within the New Methods framework. The Oslo University Hospital carried out the evaluation. The technology was recommended for routine use in hospitals.

In mid-October 2020, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has decided that three more biomarker-based tests in breast cancer will be covered by the statutory health insurance. Since January 2020, the "Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score" test is already reimbursed in Germany with a tariff of €3,296.50.

On October 09, 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) launched a public consultation on proposals for changing how it selects the topics for medicines, medical devices, and diagnostics guidance development. The consultation closes on November 19, 2020.

On October 15, 2020, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published the report “New techniques of bariatric surgery: identification, the status of advancement and opportunities to evaluate,” in which they outlined three techniques currently diffusing in France (SADI-Sleeve, Endosleeve, and Sleeve Gastrectomy with Transit Bipartition). All three methods are the subject of ongoing clinical studies, and the evaluation will be initiated at the end of these studies.

MTRC has started a subscription service with email alerts about initiated, published and ongoing health technology assessments of pharmaceuticals, gene and cell therapies, as well as vaccines from 56 HTA organizations globally (24 countries).

At the information meeting on October 13, 2020, Norwegian Directorate for e-Health presented planned changes in the coding system (NCSP-NCMP-NCRP) for 2021. Two new surgical procedure codes for laparoscopy, two new radiology procedure codes, and nine new medical procedure codes are proposed.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog for ambulatory reimbursement in Germany came into force on October 1, 2020. MTRC has compiled the selection of the most significant changes, concerning In-vitro diagnostics, telemedicine and vacuum wounds therapy.

On October 11, 2020, the French Ministry of Solidarity and Health published an Order in the French Official Journal relating to the coverage of CARMAT TAH by innovation package for the period of 48 months from the date of the beginning of the trial.