The report presents a summary of reimbursement situation for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in ambulatory settings. Both MRI with and without contrast are considered. All procedure codes will be provided in the analysis. When fee for service payment model is used, all fees for available reimbursement codes will be provided. 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 reimbursement situation for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Report includes both Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pacemaker (CRT-P) and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator (CRT-D) are considered. 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 Federal Statistics Office has published, in late December 2018, the changes regarding procedure coding that would come into force in January 2019. The changes concern CAR-T cell therapy and intervertebral arthrodesis devices, among other treatment methods. Besides the changes implemented, the list of all requested changes in 2018 was published.

The report presents a summary of reimbursement situation for computed tomography (CT) in ambulatory settings. Both computed tomography with and without contrast is considered. All procedure codes will be provided in the analysis. When fee for service payment model is used, all fees for available reimbursement codes will be provided. 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.

In December of 2018, the completed mini-method assessment for targeted deep sequencing panel for patients with varying types of hematological neoplasia was released by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH). The method was determined as safe and efficient and was recommended to become a part of routine clinical practice.

In January 2019, the Danish Health Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen) released a new national clinical guideline, which focuses on the choice between radical prostatectomy and the option of active monitoring of prostate cancer.

Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) released changes in coverage of medical procedures, IVD tests and medical aids in Switzerland. They include extension of coverage for neonatal screening to severe congenital immunodeficiencies, extension of coverage under restrictions for TAVI, gene test for breast cancer, PET, PET / CT, local superficial hyperthermia during tumour treatment, external defibrillator and coverage for sub-urethral tapes for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. Also, changes in the coverage for neonatal screening were introduced.

In late December 2018, the European HTA agency, EUnetHTA, announced the ultimate project plan of the project OTCA19 - “Screening for osteoporosis in the general population.”

At the beginning of December 2018, the HTA entity of the Region of Tuscany has released a list of the upcoming assessments of the medical devices. Assessments include among others Impella ventricular assist device from Abiomed, Endocuff Vision colonoscope from Olympus, VascuFlex® Multi-LOC multiple stent delivery system from B Braun.

On December 14, 2018, the Center of Competence and Coordination of Confederation and Cantons, Swiss eHealth, has published version 2.0 of the Swiss eHealth strategy. This version replaces the 2007 version and will be applied until 2022. With the "Swiss eHealth Strategy 2.0", the Confederation and the cantons intend to enhance the promotion of digitalization in the healthcare sector, whose priority is the introduction and dissemination of the patient's digital record.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) regularly publishes new decisions about add-on reimbursement for medical devices. The decisions made in December 2018 concern various types of devices (orthopedic, neurostimulators, drug-coated balloon and others). The decisions were brought for ten (10) medical devices.

In January, the Danish Health Authority published new codes for the Health Care Classification System, including eight surgical, three medical codes and three codes for imaging diagnostics. These codes are used to classify procedures in the Danish DRG system.