The French High Authority for Health (HAS) develops clinical guidelines and recommendations whose objective is to guarantee the quality and safety of care delivery within the French setting. In the second quarter of 2019, clinical guidelines/recommendations have been developed for 16 topics.

The reimbursement for the partial surgical removal of enlarged palatal tonsils has now been confirmed. Thus, contract physicians can bill this service from July 1, 2019. A decision to amend the EBM has been taken by the Valuation Committee.

In June 2019, the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) has published a completed health economic evaluation regarding the cost-effectiveness of the comprehensive genomic profiling test for all solid tumors FoundationOne CDx. TLV believes that in most cases, the use of FoundationOne CDx is more expensive in comparison to current treatment methods. However, it has greater sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnostics.

In late June 2019, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) took its first decision on the use of biomarker-based tests. Patients with breast cancer in the early stages, in which the risk of relapse cannot be determined with certainty, can be provided in the future with a biomarker test as a statutory health insurance (SHI) benefit.

On June 6, 2019, the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) has changed the Services Ordinance (OPre/KLV), which determines coverage of health care services in Switzerland. The changes regard mostly the reimbursement rules for various services. Furthermore, there are updates regarding the Health Insurance Law (LAMal/KVG), List of Analyses, List of Medical Aids and Equipment, and clinical coding.

In June 2019, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has released an HTA report for TAVI in patients with severe aortic stenosis and intermediate surgical risk commissioned by the National System for Managed Introduction of New Health Technologies within the Specialist Health Service in Norway. The cost-utility analysis indicated that TAVI was slightly more effective and more costly than open surgery. These findings can help decision makers appraise the intervention against the official priority setting criteria in health care sector applicable in Norway.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) regularly publishes new decisions about add-on reimbursement for medical devices. The decisions made in June 2019 concern various types of devices, including orthopedic, cardiovascular and diabetes devices, and cochlear implants. A total of 32 decisions were made.

On the 11th of June 2019, the Dutch National Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland, ZIN) has published a position regarding the positively assessed indications and the appropriate protocols for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) that have been included in the basic package since 2009 in order to promote the appropriate use of this care. Health insurers can include this information and the quality criteria of the protocols when purchasing HBOT.

On 17th June 2019, the company in charge of the development of the DRG system in Switzerland, SwissDRG SA, has announced the catalog version of SwissDRG 9.0/2020 (2017/2020). Eleven days later, the planning version of SwissDRG (2018/2020) has been published as well.

After having identified the eligibility conditions for teleconsultation and teleexpertise in 2018, the French High Authority for Health (HAS) published a series of documents in late June 2019, for the operational deployment of eHealth services. Each of the new modalities of practice is discussed: teleconsultation, teleexpertise, and teleimaging. Also, the HAS proposed an information document to be given to patients before a teleconsultation.

In June 2019, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) published a report of the health technology assessment of bariatric surgery.