The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for hernia repair. Report includes analysis for inguinal hernia, incisional hernia, umbilical hernia and femoral hernia. Use of synthetic and biological mesh devices is considered in the report. The analysis covers procedure coding, payment mechanism, reimbursement tariffs and policy restrictions in 11 EU countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for bariatric surgery. Report includes analysis for placement of adjustable gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, and gastric bypass. The analysis covers procedure coding, payment mechanism, reimbursement tariffs and policy restrictions in 11 EU countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

INAMI/RIZIV launched a call for projects via the application of negative pressure wound therapy in home nursing until August 31, 2018. Funding for a project depends on the number of treatment periods started, with a maximum of €1,000 per patient.

A national ‘pause’ has been announced in the use of surgical mesh/tape to treat stress urinary incontinence and for urogynaecological prolapse where the mesh is inserted through the vaginal wall. This pause takes the form of a high vigilance restriction, and all cases should be postponed immediately if it is clinically safe to do so.

The Danish National Board of Health has implemented funds for experimental cancer surgery for the period of 2017-2020. The deadline for the second round of applications lasts until September 5, 2018.

In June 2018, Danish Health Authority published new codes for the Health Care Classification System, including two surgical, two medical procedure codes and three codes for MRI diagnostics. These codes are used to classify procedures in Danish DRG system.

Hundreds of patients each year will benefit from fourteen new innovative treatments that will now be routinely available. These treatments include several devices and procedures: keraprosthesis for corneal blindness, left atrial appendage occlusion, selective dorsal rhizotomy and total pancreatectomy with islet transplantation for chronic pancreatitis.

At the beginning of July 2018, the Swiss agency for therapeutic products, Swissmedic, has released an announcement about the upcoming changes about upcoming changes relating to the issuing of Export Certificates (FSC) and Manufacturing Certificates (MC).

On 6th of July, 2018, the European network for health technology assessment, EUnetHTA, has opened the public consultation on ‘Horizon Scanning, Topic Identification, Selection and Prioritisation for European Cooperation on HTA – Draft recommendations.’

Six new DRGs have been added for 2019, including proton therapy, insertion of functional implants in the urinary tract or male genitals and replacement of processor in cochleart implant.

An article “An early analysis of cost-utility of baroreflex activation therapy in advanced chronic heart failure in Germany” was published in the BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. The study concluded that Baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) using the Barostim neo™ device (CVRx Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) compared with optimized medical management in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (NYHA class III) who were not eligible for treatment with cardiac resynchronization therapy, can be cost-effective from a statutory health insurance perspective in Germany over a lifetime horizon. The ICER was €27,951/QALY (95% CI €21,357–82,970).

In April 2018, a national HTA program has been launched in order to re-evaluate benefits presently covered by the mandatory health insurance.