In October 2023, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins with changes to be implemented no later than December 7, 2023. Eight new procedure codes (concerning endoscopy, gastrointestinal, interventional radiology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and men's health) and three new diagnostic codes were introduced.

On October 16, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decision recommending the transfer to standard care for another three completed projects. Two projects evaluated the effects of psychotherapy structural reform. The third project analyzed the health risks of long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (drugs that reduce stomach acid production).

On October 20, 2023, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) published six newly initiated health technology assessments, four of which relate to MedTech. These belong to pulmonary, interventional radiology, and physiotherapy technology groups.

In late October 2023, the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) is working on several HTAs, including the evaluations in the cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, ENT, ICU/OR, nephrology and urology, IVD, neurovascular, obstetrics and gynecology, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

In October 2022, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) launched the project “Continued development of coverage management: Implementation of the use of disease models”, which will run for three years to gain more knowledge about the development and application of disease models for the assessment of technologies for coverage within basic health insurance.

In October 2023, the FinCCHTA published on its website a Digi-HTA assessment aiming to evaluate Lokomat robot-assisted walking rehabilitation device, as well as Indego – Exoskeleton robot-assisted walking device. The products received a total score of 08 (out of 10), which means the quality but insufficiency of available evidence and safety data. The cost of using the products could be high. There could be minor deficiencies in data security and protection or usability and accessibility.

The updated German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM) catalog came into force on October 1, 2023. The EBM catalog (Einheitlicher Bewertungsmaßstab) regulates the reimbursement of services in the public outpatient sector in Germany and is updated once a quarter (four times a year). Among other changes, a new code for “Mawendo” and “Oviva Direkt für Adipositas” health apps were introduced in the catalog.

On October 5, 2023, the Health Technology Council initiated the evaluation aimed to investigate whether Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation should be used as a treatment option for adult patients with treatment-resistant depression. The expected publication date is not announced yet.

On September 27, 2023, the Italian Ministry of Health released a decree with which they adopted the launch of the new national screening program, which will be launched in January 2024. The screening program will screen children for type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.

On October 10, 2023, NHS England published an updated work plan for specialized clinical commissioning policies development (as of October 2, 2023). Two MedTech-related policies were added to the program: Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery for essential tremor in adults; Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for the treatment of primary kidney cancer. The status of ongoing policies was updated.

In October 2023, the Norwegian Directorate of e-Health released the Norwegian Clinical Procedure Codes for 2024. The coding system consists of three parts: NCMP for medical procedures, NCSP for surgical, and NCRP for radiological procedures. A total of 28 new codes will be introduced from January 2024: 10 new surgical procedure codes, 14 new radiology procedure codes, and four new medical procedure codes.

In October 2023, the Centre for Assessment of Medical Technology in Örebro is working on several HTAs, including evaluations in e-health, ICU/OR, men’s health, orthopedic fields, and other fields.