In November 2020, NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative published their plans for further introducing MedTech Funding Mandate after the COVID-19 outbreak. The MedTech Funding Mandate policy and the consultation outcome report are planning to be published this winter to support its launch in April 2021.

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues two types of documents: HTA forms and motivational forms. With a regional decree 19274 of November 24, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of twelve medical devices of various therapeutic areas. See the list of evaluated devices in the post from MTRC.

In November 2020, NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative updated the Rapid Uptake Products program for 2020/21. Three innovations from the 2019/20 program will continue through 2020/21, and four new products were added.

On November 3, 2020, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the critical features of the first release of the DRG package for the 2022 (RZ22a). Sixteen new procedure codes and three new DRG groups will be implemented.

The ultimate step in establishing reimbursement is achieved by making reimbursement applications to authorities. MTRC provides support with the development of reimbursement applications for a novel procedure code, change of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) and establishing other payment mechanisms in the Nordic region and Russia.

Procedure volume information is crucial to develop an understanding of the market size, frequency of use of alternative / competitor procedures. MTRC provides procedure volume analysis using national administrative databases in Austria, Belgium, England, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

In late November 2020, the Danish Health Authority has published DRG tariffs, as well as psychiatric and rehabilitation rates for 2021.

In November 2020, the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) launched a theme survey for medical technology products in stroke, focusing on products for diagnostic/assessment in case of suspected stroke. The submissions in relation to this survey will be closed on December 16, 2020

In November 2020, the Innovation and Technology Payment (ITP) program for 2020/21 was released by NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative. ITP 2020/21 builds on the Innovation and Technology Tariff (ITT) and ITP 2019/20; eight products will continue to be supported. Additionally, two digital technologies received continued support through the Evidence Generation Fund.

On October 30, 2020, the Swiss Federal Statistics Office (UFS) published the 2021 version of the procedure code (CHOP) nomenclature in French and Italian. The version in the German language was published in July 2020. The most important changes regard cardiovascular and peripheral vascular interventions.

On November 9, 2020, in accordance with §137h Paragraph 6 SGB V, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has initiated an evaluation procedure for endovascular implantation of a stent-graft with valve element in tricuspid valve insufficiency within the framework of the early benefit assessment.

In October 2020, a mini-HTA report was published on “Early method evaluation” (Tidlig metodevurdering). The report proposes a novel type of “early method evaluation” to complement existing national and mini-HTA frameworks in Norway. This new assessment type can be performed before classical HTA. Early Method Evaluation can be used locally at department or hospital levels when new technology/innovation is tested to analyze the impact on patient, staff, finances before reliable evidence from clinical studies became available.