News and blog posts
02
Nov 2022
In October 2022, Ordering Forum for New Methods framework in Norway invited interested parties regarding hand-held electrocardiogram (ECG) devices connected to an app for diagnosing atrial fibrillation in adults (e.g., KardiaMobile). Information shall be submitted no later than November 29, 2022. Ordering Forum will be held on December 12, 2022, to decide whether the method will undergo evaluation at the national level.
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01
Nov 2022
In the second half of October 2022, 47 new procedure codes were introduced by the Code Service of the Finnish National Health and Wellbeing Institution (THL). These codes became valid on November 1, 2022. The introduced codes are dedicated to diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, gastrointestinal, radiotherapy, pulmonary and airways, surgical procedures, and some other fields.
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31
Oct 2022
On October 12, 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced the launch of an official collaboration with five other HTA bodies from Canada, Australia, Scotland, and Wales. The partners will remain independent and work together on shared priorities. Five initial priority areas have been agreed upon, including COVID-19, digital health, and Artificial Intelligence. The partnership could be expanded to include other HTA bodies in the future.
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28
Oct 2022
The “New Method” is currently developing criteria for which methods other than drugs shall be prioritized for assessment within the framework at the national or local levels. On October 04, 2022, the development status was reported to the Ministry of Health and Care with the proposal on how the existing criteria could be used together with the criteria of the regulatory work in HTA.
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27
Oct 2022
In late September – early October 2022, three more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by sickness funds.
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26
Oct 2022
On September 22, 2022, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the second release of the DRG package for 2023 (RZ23b). Nineteen new procedure codes, eight new supplementary payments, and seven new DRGs will be implemented. These changes concern remote monitoring, molecular diagnostics, surgical procedures, gynecology and dermatology technology groups.
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25
Oct 2022
On October 11, 2022, the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) announced the selection of two topics for major analyses (større analyser) for 2023, including the use of home non-invasive ventilation and the use of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy.
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24
Oct 2022
Rehabilitation before or after a primary knee or hip replacement using a health app is temporarily reimbursed in Belgium under a specific agreement with the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV). Reimbursement was limited to patients participating in the clinical study. From October 01, 2022, all patients eligible for rehabilitation before and after a primary knee or hip replacement will receive it using a health app in combination with a certain minimum number of classic face-to-face physiotherapy sessions. Certain health apps must be included in the list of reimbursable mobile applications. For now, only one app (MoveUP Coach) is included.
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21
Oct 2022
In October 2022, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released the procedure coding system for 2023. A total of 54 new codes will be introduced from January 2023: 19 surgical procedure codes (NCSP) concerning neurology and neurosurgery, neurovascular, cardiovascular, eHealth, diagnostic imaging, pulmonary and airwaves, radiotherapy, nephrology, peripheral vascular, and surgical procedures, 17 radiology procedure codes (NCRP), and 18 medical procedure codes (NCMP).
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20
Oct 2022
On March 16, 2022, NHS England launched a strategy for embedding genomics in the NHS over the next five years. The ambition is to accelerate the use of genomic medicine across the NHS, providing a world-leading, equitable service to populations and individuals.
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19
Oct 2022
The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on October 1, 2022. The most significant changes concern introducing the EBM codes for several IVD tests and a new service in artificial insemination.
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18
Oct 2022
In September 2022, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland, ZIN) announced three more projects which received a subsidy under the "Subsidy scheme for promising care" in 2022 for research of PET/CT scan instead of CT scan for post-screening in lung cancer, treatment for head and neck cancer that spares lymph nodes in the neck and surgery to prevent lymphedema after cancer treatment. In total, eight projects will receive a subsidy in 2022.
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