The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for use of spinal cord stimulation. Indications include neuropathic and ischemic pain. 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 deep brain stimulation. Indications include Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, cluster headache, and epilepsy. 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.

Starting with 19th of June, 2018, HIV self-test kits can be bought in pharmacies and druggists all over Switzerland.

The report presents a summary of the reimbursement situation for vagus nerve stimulation. Indications include epilepsy and depression. 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.

On the 14th of May of 2018, Norwegian RHF Decision Forum (Beslutningsforum) has recommended usage of the Flash Glucose Monitoring system - Freestyle Libre for the treatment and follow-up of children (less than 18 years) with type 1 diabetes and other types of diabetes.

On 31st of May, 2018, the Catalan agency for quality and health evaluation, AQuAS, has published an update on the efficacy, effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of the proton therapy for the treatment of cancer.

In the second half of May, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedure guidance for low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy and endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating biliary obstruction caused by cancer.

During the last meeting of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System in Spain (end of April) three decisions about coverage or new services or indications in the National Benefit Catalogue were announced. They concern hearing aids, micropigmentation of the nipples and continuous glucose monitoring. The changes are still due to be formalized in a form of a Royal Decree.

Two mini-method assessments regarding brachytherapy for esophageal cancer and targeted gene deep-sequencing panels were initiated by Oslo University Hospital in May of 2018. All finalized mini-method assessments are published in the National Database for Mini-HTA.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) conducted a full health technology assessment (HTA) of Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) using 177Luthetium (177Lu-PRRT) on the request from payers (“New methods” framework for introduction of innovations in Norway).

Payment-for-performance schemes in health care remain controversial as there is no solid evidence that they improve quality of care. A new study, published in Health Policy by Herbst et al, did not show any positive long-term effects of the implementation of P4P on quality of care. The program was implemented within the integrated contract framework between one ophthalmological clinic and one statutory health insurance company in Germany.

In spring 2018, the Belgian Healthcare Knowledge Center, KCE, has published a rapid HTA report of MammaPrint® test for personalized management of adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in early breast cancer. The report complements evaluation of the clinical utility of the test from the EUNetHTA’s assessment with health economic evaluation in a Belgian context. Estimates show approximate mean chemotherapy-related costs in Belgium of €11 411 without considering sick leave costs and of €15 044 when the latter are included. KCE came to the conclusion that given the uncertainties surrounding the limited data on the clinical utility of MammaPrint®, no reliable incremental cost-effectiveness ratio could be calculated.