The French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new recommendations about add-on reimbursement of medical devices and medical aids from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in December 2021. More than 15 recommendations were published in relation to the registration, modification of registration conditions, renewal of registration of devices in the List of reimbursable products and services (LPPR). Opinions concern cardiovascular, orthopedic, ENT devices, as well as medical aids. Except for this, CNEDiMTS published an opinion about transitional coverage (a newly established pathway for reimbursement) for a cardiovascular device.

In December 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (endobronchial nerve ablation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer), two new Medical Technologies Guidance (ClearGuard HD antimicrobial barrier caps, and Endo-SPONGE for treating low rectal anastomotic leak), and one new Medtech Innovation Briefings (FreeO2 automatic oxygen titration). Also, one new clinical guideline was published, and five were updated.

Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) has issued a draft release of the DRG package for 2023, including a new procedure code for intermittent pneumatic compression therapy, a new diagnosis code for guidance in early pregnancy after a fertility program, and several new DRGs for pediatric palliative care, lymphovenous anastomosis surgery and light therapy in inflammatory dermatoses.

On December 9, 2021, the Danish Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd), during its meeting, approved three topics selected for developing the so-called major analyses (større analyser) in 2022. The approved topics include handheld focused ultrasound in emergency medicine, artificial intelligence (AI) as decision support for colonoscopy, and intelligent/high-tech beds for use in intensive care units.

In mid-December 2021, 44 new procedure codes were introduced by the Code Service of the Finnish National Health and Wellbeing Institution (THL). The introduced codes are dedicated to substance abuse, psychological counseling and rehabilitation, palliative care, anesthesia, and sedation. No updates related to medical technologies were introduced.

On December 16, 2021, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) announced the start of the procedure concerning a co-funded study in accordance with §137e of the Social Code Book V (SGB V) for a low-intensity pulsed ultrasound for the treatment of pseudarthroses.

In December 2021, NHSX announced that the new elective recovery tech fund would support over 400 innovative digital technologies. The fund has been established to help NHS organizations accelerate the uptake of digitally supported elective care. Up to £250 million has been made available to Integrated Care Systems as a part of a £700 million Targeted Investment Fund intended to speed up elective recovery and tackle waiting lists.

On December 20, 2021, the tariff partners of the novel TARDOC reimbursement system for outpatient care (association of health insurers curafutura and association of physicians, FMH) re-submitted the substantially revised version 1.3 of TARDOC to the Federal Council. The tariff partners hope that the Federal Council will assess the new reimbursement system in the first quarter of 2022 and that it could be implemented from January 2023.

In late December 2021, five new in-vitro diagnostics tests, including one test for COVID-19 spike protein antibodies determination, were added to the Laboratory Test Nomenclature (Laboratoriotutkimusnimikkeistö) in Finland.

In mid-December 2021, the Danish Health Data Agency (Sundhedsstyrelsen) published the Health Care Classification System (Sundheds-væsenets Klassifikations System, SKS). The most significant changes include: 41 new diagnosis codes and 21 procedure codes were added. The newly added procedure codes concern mainly spine area and orthopedic procedures.

In December 2021, the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) finished the theme survey in the obstructive pulmonary diseases field, which was conducted as a part of the Orderly Introduction for Medical Technologies framework. Identified technologies could potentially be included in the Orderly Introduction of Medical Technologies framework, which aims to facilitate the introduction of novel technologies on the national level.

On December 15, 2021, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has announced that seventeen applications for Innovation Funding of the new forms of care were accepted.