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.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on October 1, 2023. The most significant changes concern the introduction of the new EBM codes for several IVD tests, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography, as well as for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in vestibular schwannomas.

UK patients will benefit from a £30 million government investment in innovative medical technology, which will help ease pressures on the NHS this winter. The Integrated care systems will be able to invest in the latest technology that can help cut waiting lists, speed up diagnosis, and deliver new and improved ways to treat patients.

On September 21, 2023, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) announced the submission of grant applications for the development or validation of methodology for labor deployment measurement and evaluation under the 2021-2024 HTA Methodology Program. The submission of grant applications will continue until January 9, 2024.

The so-called hybrid DRGs reimbursement mechanism will first cover services from the “starting catalog”, and it will be implemented at the beginning of 2024. The catalog itself is still not publicly available.

On September 28, 2023, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the second release of the DRG package for 2024 (RZ24b). One new procedure code, two new supplementary payments, and three new DRGs will be implemented across in-vitro diagnostics, urology, and cardiovascular technology groups.