In January 2024, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) published an update of the “Guideline for conducting health economic evaluations”.

MTRC is re-starting the release of educational videos on its YouTube channel. Videos will cover a wide range of topics, including reimbursement, funding, health technology assessment, and clinical and economic evidence requirements for medical technologies in European countries.

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Garcia Gonzalez-Moral et al. conducted a mapping review to identify various methodologies employed in horizon scanning (HS) and foresight practices for medical technology (MedTech) innovation, with a specific focus on informing healthcare decision-making. The authors uncovered 25 distinct methods of HS, emphasizing the prevalence of combined approaches. Their findings underscored the necessity for greater transparency and consistency in methodologies to enhance the quality and timeliness of decision-making processes in the field of MedTech.

New Greek DRG system (Gr-DRG), which has been developed in collaboration with German Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK), will be implemented in all Greek hospitals since March 01, 2024.

In January 2024, NHS England issued an updated version of the National Genomic Test Directory for 2024/2025, which lists genomic tests commissioned by NHS England via Genomic Laboratory Hubs. Six new codes (test-indication combinations) were introduced in the Test Directory for cancer, and four new codes in the Test Directory for rare and inherited diseases.

On January 15, 2024, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) released an updated DRG system for 2024. No significant changes were made aand no new APR-DRGs were added; thus. The reimbursement tariffs were increased by about 5%.

In December 2023, the Swiss parliament adopted the uniform financing of outpatient and inpatient services (EFAS). Currently, inpatient benefits are financed jointly by health insurers and the cantons, whereas outpatient services are entirely funded by the insured. The EFAS will come into force in January 2028 and bring a uniform way of financing inpatient and outpatient services; the healthcare system is expected to be integrated into this system four years later.

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Graili et al. reviewed the comprehensive integration of real-world evidence (RWE) drawn from diverse sources of real-world data (RWD) within the health technology assessment (HTA) process. The authors examined the potential challenges and barriers that impede the widespread incorporation of RWE in routine HTA practices. The study sheds light on the effective utilization of RWE, offering insights into the strategic application of RWD at different stages of the HTA process, thus advocating for a more robust and inclusive approach to evidence-based decision-making in healthcare.

MTRC maintains a page with free, brief summaries of the market access landscape for medical technologies and in-vitro diagnostic tests in European countries, the Knowledge Zone. The intention of the Knowledge Zone is to become an easily accessible reference material to our clients about payment systems for medical technologies in Europe. The current version of the Knowledge Zone includes information about 30 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Wales. For each country, information is provided about key market access challenges, payment mechanisms, funding and HTA barriers, and specifics of reimbursement of in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests.

Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) implemented the MedTech Horizon Scan to gain a better insight into the arrival of medical technological innovations).

On January 1, 2024, the annual update of the Finnish NordDRG system came into force. A total of 63 new DRGs were introduced concerning men’s health, nephrology and urology, neurology, neuromodulation, obstetrics and gynecology, surgical procedures, and other fields.

Health technology assessment plays an important role in market access for medical technologies in England. NICE's early value assessment (EVA) program in medical technology, launched in 2022, assesses mostly digital technologies at an early stage in evidence generation. The program recommends the most promising technologies for use in the NHS while further evidence is being generated. NICE focuses on clinical effectiveness, safety, cost, and cost-effectiveness of the technologies. In this White Paper, MTRC performed a review of five recent EVA assessments by NICE to present the evidence requirements for digital and diagnostic medical technologies in this particular HTA program. A review of five cases is followed by recommendations in relation to evidence generation for medical technologies, market access in England, and factors influencing the decision-making of NICE.