National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI) is currently developing a framework for the reimbursement of telemedicine and health apps (mHealth).

The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for use of minimally invasive treatment of benign prostate enlargement in Europe. The following procedures will be considered under the scope of analysis: transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT), Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), photoselective vaporization of the prostate, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), Urolift, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) as a comparator. 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. It is also possible to add analysis in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for for breast reconstruction after unilateral total mastectomy for breast cancer in Europe. The following types of breast reconstruction are considered: with autologous tissue (myocutaneous flap of latissimus dorsi muscle, superior gluteal artery perforator flap, transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap); with the use of implant. 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. It is also possible to add analysis in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

Patients suffering from recurrent or long-lasting depression can be treated within a structured treatment program (Disease Management Program, DMP) in the future. The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decided on the 15th of August 2019 the details on the content of the new DMP after more than three years of consulting.

In Sweden, the Priority Council of Skåne Region prepares and presents suggestions for new methods, routines, and treatments, to be included in the healthcare system. In August 2019, the HTA report for endoscopic procedures in dysphagia was released. The analysis showed that fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and videofluoroscopy are clinically well-established procedures that have good and equal coherence between different assessors and in repeated assessments.

In August 2019, the mini-HTA for Tendyne transcatheter mitral valve implantation system was initiated by Oslo University Hospital. The finalized mini-method assessment will be published in the National Database for Mini-HTA.

The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for caesarean section in Europe. Both “classical” and lower uterine segment Caesarean section are considered under the scope. The only reimbursement within public / statutory health insurance systems is analyzed. 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. It is also possible to add analysis in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

At the beginning of August 2019, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland, ZIN) has published an Overview of the applications of healthcare products and activities for conditional entry into the Basic Insurance Package. Two applications for heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer and GAG therapy in bladder pain syndrome were considered.

NICE issued a consultation document about safety and efficacy of balloon cryoablation for Barrett’s oesophagus and squamous dysplasia of the oesophagus and balloon dilation for eustachian tube dysfunction which were considered for Interventional Procedures Guidance in development for public consultation until 20 September 2019.

The seminar includes overview of topics of reimbursement, funding, payment mechanisms for IVD tests in hospital, day case and out-patient settings, health technology assessment, innovation funding, role of clinical and economic evidence, stakeholder engagement. Data from 10 EU countries are used. The seminar is available as a pre-recorded on-demand webinar or full presentation in Acrobat PDF.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) group develop and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New procedure codes concern hip replacement, endoscopic ablation, multiple arthroscopic operations on the ankle, collagen paste for closing an anal fistula and diagnostic codes for tests for next generations sequencing molecular intelligence, and others. The codes are introduced with a recommended adoption date being the 1st of November 2019. The documents also contain a list of textual changes in codes, inactivated codes, and an updated list of unacceptable combinations of codes.

In August 2019, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI-HTA) published updated evaluations of medical procedures previously assessed. Technologies that were revised are The Barricaid® device for annulus Fibrosus Repair after lumbar discectomy, single-step scaffold-based treatment (AMIC) and two-step scaffold-based treatment (MACI), radiofrequency denervation and electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve.