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, Vandenberk et al. examined the global determinants of remote monitoring (RM) utilization in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices through a survey of clinic personnel from 47 countries. The study revealed significant geographic variability in RM adoption, driven by economic factors, such as gross national income per capita and clinic funding models, along with differences between office-based and hospital-based settings. The authors emphasized the need for targeted efforts by all stakeholders to address disparities and enhance access to RM technologies worldwide.

On November 28, 2024, the updated version of the Finnish Laboratory Tests Nomenclature was published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to come into force on January 1, 2025. Six new codes were introduced.

On December 5, 2024, NHS England announced the next steps in delegating commissioning responsibilities for prescribed specialized services to local commissioners - integrated care boards (ICBs). These include the final list of 70 specialized services delegated to all ICBs starting from April 2025

On December 17, 2024, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) announced the submission of grant applications for the subsidy round “Effectiveness Study 2026” of the Efficiency Research program, which is intended for projects to increase knowledge for healthcare practice about the effectiveness and costs of interventions in the Netherlands. The deadline for the submission of the applications is March 4, 2025.

On December 4, 2024, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) launched a consultation on whether to offer human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling option to under-screened people in the cervical cancer screening program alongside traditional clinician-collected sampling by a nurse or doctor. The deadline for comments submission is February 26, 2025.

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, Bloemen et al. analyzed the procedures and methods used by health technology assessment (HTA) agencies in evaluating medical devices, focusing on the normative commitments of HTA practitioners. The authors revealed that existing drug-focused frameworks and practical constraints limit innovation, underscoring the need for a re-evaluation of HTA roles and institutional changes to support methodological advancements tailored for medical devices.

On November 23, 2024, the Norwegian Directorate of Health released an updated version of the Norwegian Laboratory Code (NLK) system and associated tariffs to be implemented no later than January 1, 2025. Thirty-two new codes were added in the biochemistry, microbiology, clinical pharmacology, and immunology fields.

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, Tarricone et al. analyzed assessment frameworks for digital medical devices (DMDs) across the EU to identify prevailing regulatory and reimbursement approaches. The study categorized these frameworks into the following five clusters: integrated national systems combining regulation and reimbursement, decentralized or non-reimbursement-linked frameworks, institutional certification processes lacking standardization, preparatory systems, and countries with underdeveloped infrastructures. The authors emphasized the cross-country learning effects, expediting the harmonization of approaches to foster innovation and improve access to DMDs across the EU.

MTRC developed an analytical White Paper featuring an analysis of five HTAs and strategic recommendations regarding evidence generation for medical technologies in the Netherlands and factors influencing the decision-making of ZIN.

In December 2024, the Danish Board for Health Apps published information on how to apply for the health app evaluation, including the electronic form for the application to the Board of Health Apps, the assessment criteria, and details of the application process.

In late November 2024, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decisions recommending the transfer to standard care for two completed projects. The projects were dedicated to relieving the burden of emergency rooms and improving infection surveillance in nursing homes.

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI/RIZIV) launched a new agreement (Convention) allowing reimbursement for remote monitoring of patients with chronic heart failure. It will come into force on January 1, 2025. New codes (pseudonomenclature) with fees for packages of care will be used for reimbursement. The packages include monitoring of clinical parameters by patients at home (e.g., blood pressure measurement or pulmonary artery pressure measured by an implanted sensor) and transmission of data via a health app to the remote monitoring team at the hospital.