Innovative payment schemes

In July 2025, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) announced a new policy framework “Reimbursement within Research” (Vergoeding in Onderzoek), which allows temporary reimbursement under basic health insurance during the evaluation period for specialist medical care and medical devices with limited evidence of effectiveness. ZIN is currently reviewing the framework to provide advice on implementation. The launch of the new framework is expected in November 2025.

On July 16, 2025, the UK Government published the Life Sciences Sector Plan, which outlines targeted actions to support world-class research and development, attract investment, and accelerate health innovation and NHS reform. The key actions to ensure faster access to clinically and cost-effective technologies include implementing the Rules-Based Pathway for MedTech, “Innovator Passport”, national standard guidance on value-based procurement for MedTech, and “HealthStore” (coverage of approved health apps for patients).

On July 10, 2025, a decision of the National Union of Health Insurance Funds regarding the update of the CCAM Classification of Medical Procedures was published. The update includes the provisional registration of one procedure code for transrectal HIFU destruction of prostate lesions and changes to indications and billing notes for several existing codes. The update takes effect on September 1, 2025.

On June 5, 2025, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published its favorable opinion on the coverage of AI-assisted digitalized urine cytology using VisioCyt Bladder, an in-vitro diagnostic medical device, under the renewed Repository of Innovative Procedures outside the Nomenclature of Biology and Anatomocytopathology (RIHN) 2.0.

In May 2025, the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport provided further details on terminating "Subsidy Scheme for Promising Care". The program will be discontinued as of January 1, 2026, without any follow-up measures or financing. No new rounds for submission of proposals will be available. Nothing will change for the 28 ongoing projects and projects expected to be awarded later in 2025 as a result of the last completed rounds.

In late February 2025, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decision recommending the transfer to standard care for the completed project in the peripheral vascular field. The project was dedicated to the integration and spatial analysis of regional, site-specific, and patient-specific factors to improve the quality of care in carotid artery revascularization.

On November 17, 2024, the French Ministry of Health and Access to Care published an Order in the Official Journal of the French Republic on the support and reimbursement of reinforced care pathways – a direct outcome of the experimental projects under Article 51 of the Social Security Financing Act of 2018, which aimed to innovate healthcare delivery and financing models. The new framework aims to enhance the coordination and quality of care for patients with complex health needs and provides financing for coordinated care projects.

In October 2024, the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport decided to discontinue the "Subsidy scheme for promising care," which was implemented in 2019 to support the development of missing clinical and economic evidence for promising care that otherwise cannot be covered within basic health insurance. There are 28 ongoing projects, and some new projects will be awarded the subsidy in the 2025 round.

On October 14, 2024, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) published the DRG catalog (Fallpauschalen-Katalog) with the list of DRGs and additional reimbursement categories (ZEs) for 2025. Three new DRGs were introduced in the endoscopy and ophthalmology fields.

On September 2, 2024, the Institute for Hospital Remuneration Systems (INeK) announced the start of the application process according to §6 (2) KHEntgG (New Examination and Treatment Methods, NUB) for 2025.

On April 25, 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Solidarity published an Order in the Official Journal of the French Republic setting the tariffs for digital medical devices with therapeutic functions covered within the early digital support (PECAN) scheme. The tariff for the manufacturer will include an initial lump sum of €435 per patient billable for up to 3 months and a subsequent monthly package of €38.30. The maximum amount of financial compensation is €780 per year per patient.

On September 1, 2023, the Institute for Hospital Remuneration Systems (INeK) announced the start of the application process for the innovation funding of the new examination and treatment methods (NUB) for 2024. The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) reminds applying hospitals about minor changes in application requirements.