Skip to main content

News and blog posts

06
Dec 2022

Med Tech-related technology assessments and clinical guidelines from NICE in November 2022

In November 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Interventional Procedure Guidance (extracorporeal shockwave therapy for calcific tendinopathy in the shoulder, balloon disimpaction of the baby's head at emergency cesarean, percutaneous ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for benign thyroid nodules, ab interno canaloplasty for open-angle glaucoma, tunnelled peritoneal drainage catheter insertion), and two new Medical Technologies Guidance (GreenLight XPS, Optilume). Also, one new clinical guideline was published, and one was updated.
02
Dec 2022

Organization for Outpatient Physician Tariffs (OAAT) founded in Switzerland

On November 15, 2022, a new body called “Organization for Outpatient Physician Tariffs AG (OAAT)” was founded under the leadership of the Bernese government councillor. It involves all tariff partners (associations of health insurers curafutura and santésuisse, as well as the association of hospitals H+, the association of physicians FMH, and medical tariff commission MTK/CTM), who have joined forces in order to reach the goal of improving the outpatient reimbursement system.
01
Dec 2022

No new technologies will be added to MedTech Funding Mandate in 2023/24

In November 2022, NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative decided not to add new technologies to MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM) in 2023/24. Instead, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are asked to prioritize the appropriate adoption of currently supported technologies where this has not yet occurred. The MTFM supports eleven NICE-approved and cost-saving devices, diagnostics, and digital products, making them mandatory for implementation and funding.
30
Nov 2022

2023 Swedish NordDRG system released

In November 2022, the National Board of Health and Welfare released the Swedish version of the NordDRG system to come into force in January 2023, including the list of DRG codes, names, and cost-weights. A total of 77 new DRGs will be implemented. Key new DRGs were introduced in cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and endoscopy fields, also for breast reconstruction and bone-anchored hearing implants.
28
Nov 2022

New version of CCAM nomenclature published in France

The new version of the classification of procedure codes (CCAM v.71), applicable from December 03, 2022, was published in France. Several changes were introduced, including the creation of four new codes related to ENT, pulmonary and airways, and interventional radiology areas. Also, the modification of tariffs for 50 dental procedure codes will enter into force on January 01, 2023.
25
Nov 2022

New policy for a proven experience of medical technology by the MTP Council in Sweden

In November 2022, Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council issued a policy of proven experience for medical technology, which complies profession's assessment of how appropriate medical technology is in specific conditions. The policy provides some examples of how the MTP Council acquires knowledge of proven experience and its impact on the MTP Council's recommendations.
24
Nov 2022

New procedure codes in OPCS-4.10 to come into force from April 2023 in England

In November 2022, NHS Digital published a final summary of core changes from OPCS-4.9 to OPCS-4.10 to be introduced from April 01, 2023. OPCS-4 is a statistical classification for clinical coding of interventions and procedures undertaken within the NHS. It is updated every three years. A total of 236 new four-character codes will be implemented in OPCS-4.10. Key changes concern cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endoscopy, ENT, nephrology and urology, neurology and neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic, and breast surgery fields.
23
Nov 2022

Mapping the pathways enabling market access to innovative medical procedures and technologies

MedTech Europe and MTRC completed a mapping of reimbursement and funding of medical procedures and technologies. MTRC analysed all these pathways by screening the situation in 32 European countries between July and October 2022. The result is an overview of all the current payment schemes for innovative medical technologies and procedures. The mapping also presents the current concrete initiatives aimed at transforming healthcare systems and/or reimbursement and funding systems already implemented by some European countries.
23
Nov 2022

Rapid HTAs of three medical devices released in Tuscany

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues three types of documents: full HTA reports, rapid HTA reports, and motivational forms. With regional decree 21738 of November 4, 2022, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of three medical devices in the orthopedics, surgical procedures, and peripheral vascular areas.
22
Nov 2022

The final version of the 2023 OPS procedure coding classification released in Germany

On October 27, 2022, the BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices) published the final version of the 2023 OPS procedure coding classification. The OPS, together with the ICD-10-GM (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, German Modification), forms the basis for the reimbursement systems in outpatient and inpatient care in Germany.