There is an ongoing process to change the structure of add-on reimbursement for peripheral vascular stents in France. In July 2017 CNEDiMTS issued additional clarifications about proposed reimbursement requirements for stents and stent-grafts. Read about proposed changes in our post.

In the second two weeks of August, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published three new Interventional Procedures Guidance for liposuction for chronic lymphoedema, radiofrequency treatment for haemorrhoids, biodegradable spacer insertion to reduce rectal toxicity during radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

New material codes for spinal distraction system and platinum surgical sealant for contact with lung tissue were added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in August. Codes for application of intramedullary nails were changed and conditions of reimbursement for valvulotomy and percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage were amended.

There is an ongoing process to establish add-on reimbursement for FFR guidewires. Earlier in 2017 two guidewires (Verrata & Verrata More, Philips Volcano; Pressurewire (Certus - Aeris – X), Abbott) received a positive assessment by the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) with moderate improvement vs. standard of care. In June 2017, COMET device also received a positive recommendation from CNEDiMTS (no improvement vs. already recommended devices) only on the basis of data about technical equivalency. This is unusual for brand-specific applications and may be an interesting precedent for further applications.

Decree #968 introduced a number of additional products for which procurement will be limited to Russian-made products only. The List includes devices for blood transfusion, containers for storage and transport of blood, consumables for mechanical lung ventilation, consumables for plasmapheresis, consumables for cardiopulmonary bypass, urine, and fecal collectors.

In the first two weeks of August, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published three new Medtech Innovation Briefings for Biopatch for venous or arterial catheter sites, Urethrotech UCD for difficult or failed catheterization and VEST external stent for coronary artery bypass grafts.

Since April 2016, procurement of a number of devices, which are reimbursed on top of HRG in England via High Cost Device List, was transferred from local level to the national level under NHS Supply Chain. NHS Supply Chain released a new set of questions and answers to the most common questions from the providers. The document provides substantial insights into specifics of the procurement process.

G-BA started review process for number of procedures for treatment of benign prostate enlargement in 2009. After publication of the results of rapid health technology assessment by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), G-BA was able to come to the conclusion in June 2017 about efficacy and safety of the thulium laser resection of prostate are well documented and procedure can be covered within statutory health insurance in Germany.

A list of scientific societies and technical and scientific medical associations appointed to release national guidelines will be defined in the next months by the Ministry of Health, following its decree issued on 2nd August 2017.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. New codes were added for video-assisted anal fistula treatment, infracoccygeal sacropexy using mesh to repair uterine and vaginal vault prolapse.

New material codes for neurovascular self-expanding stent retrievers for clot removal (mechanical thrombectomy for stroke) and foam preparation for hysterosalpingosonography were added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in July.

In 2017, PAE was evaluated by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute – Health Technology Assessment (LBI-HTA) to define whether evidence for this minimally invasive procedure can be sufficient for inclusion into benefit catalogue. Within this research work, evidence in relation to efficacy and safety of PAE was assessed in comparison to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and open prostatectomy. Based on the results of literature review, LBI-HTA did not recommend PAE for inclusion into benefit catalogue in Austria. LBI-HTA recommended re-evaluating PAE procedure in the 2021 year when new potential evidence is available.