Ninety-two new codes have been implemented, including protein fractions and reproductive medicine tests.

Plasmapheresis procedure has not been supported for application in patients with Alzheimer’s by Spanish Health Technology Assessment Agency (AETS) due to insufficient evidence.

EUnetHTA analyzed HTA and reimbursement procedures in relation to pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical health technologies in EUnetHTA partner countries. About 59 HTA agencies and decision-makers provided country-specific information and outlined the process of HTA and reimbursement in 31 European countries.

Applications for creation of new codes, removal of code or changes to existing codes and code description can be submitted by the Norwegian Directorate of Health.

The rules describe types of telemedicine systems used, type of care to be eligible for telemedicine services, interaction of medical personnel using telemedicine systems, approach for remote monitoring of condition of patient, and approach for documenting and storing information obtained using telemedicine technologies.

The Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AETSA) performed evaluation of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Available evidence was considered as insufficient for formulation of final conclusion. However, AETSA prepared recommendations for evidence generation strategy for this procedure.

The German Institute of Medical Documentation and Information (DIMDI) opened the annual application process for procedure codes (OPS) in the inpatient sector. Applications can be submitted by medical societies and other associations within the German healthcare system Deadline for applications is February 28th 2018 and the new codes will be incorporated in the OPS version effective from 2019.

In December, HAS published a set of decisions about add-on reimbursement of medical devices that were evaluated by the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS). These decisions concern respiratory prostheses for total laryngectomy, mandibular advancement devices, some cardiovascular devices (transcutaneous bioprosthetic aortic heart valve, ventricular assist device, etc.) and other devices.

In the first half of January, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Medtech innovation briefings for in vitro diagnostic test for determining breast cancer subtypes, point-of-care creatinine tests before contrast-enhanced imaging, plasma EGFR mutation tests for adults with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, smartphone otoscope and sequencing panel for solid tumour cancers in children .

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has analyzed the applications for approval of clinical trials at the Berlin Ethics Committee. The share of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) had risen to 86% in 2013. This trend is assumed to be an early response to increasing international legal regulations of medical devices requiring manufacturers to present higher standards of evidence.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. In November new codes for allergy diagnostics, diagnostic profiles for certain diseases and detection of antibodies against Chlamydia were added to the CCSD Schedule.

A 62-page reimbursement report covers mechanical thrombectomy for stroke. 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.