Rehabilitation

On May 01, 2024, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the first release of the 2025 DRG package (RZ25a). Three new procedure codes, five new supplementary payments, four new diagnosis codes and one new DRG will be implemented across gynecology, cardiology, neurology and neurosurgery, and other technology groups.

In February 2023, it was announced that the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) initiated several HTAs, including evaluations in the e-health, radiology, nephrology and urology, cardiovascular, IVD, obstetrics and gynecology, diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy, neurovascular, ENT, interventional radiology, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

Rehabilitation before or after a primary knee or hip replacement using a health app is temporarily reimbursed in Belgium under a specific agreement with the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV). Reimbursement was limited to patients participating in the clinical study. From October 01, 2022, all patients eligible for rehabilitation before and after a primary knee or hip replacement will receive it using a health app in combination with a certain minimum number of classic face-to-face physiotherapy sessions. Certain health apps must be included in the list of reimbursable mobile applications. For now, only one app (MoveUP Coach) is included.

In February 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (stereotactic radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia, and microwave ablation for primary or metastatic cancer in the lung), two new Diagnostic Guidance (EarlyCDT Lung for assessing the risk of lung cancer in solid lung nodules, PredictSURE IBD and IBDX to guide treatment of Crohn's disease), and four new Medtech Innovation Briefings (Insides System for managing intestinal failure, d-Nav insulin management app for type 2 diabetes, GaitSmart for personalized exercise rehabilitation, AposHealth for knee osteoarthritis)

The French Ministry of Solidarity and Health constantly announces the new experiments initiated under Article 51 of the Social Security Financing Act. These experiments are focused on various topics concerning medical technologies and the organization of care. At the end of December 2021, new experiments were announced which relate to coordinated care of patients with long-term illnesses, telerehabilitation program for patients with COPD, care pathway for patients suffering from lymphedema, surgery for pterygium, and others.

The French Ministry of Solidarity and Health constantly announces the new experiments initiated under Article 51 of the Social Security Financing Act. These experiments are focused on various topics concerning medical technologies and the organization of care. In the period from the end of July to the middle of September, new experiments related to cardiac rehabilitation, digital support for patients with cancer, and personalized perinatal support for women were announced.

In February 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new medical technologies guidance (Leukomed Sorbact for preventing surgical site infection) and seven new Medtech innovation briefings (PROPEL sinus implants, URO17 for detecting bladder cancer, Faecal microbiota transplant, DOAC Dipstick for detecting oral anticoagulants, CytoSorb for reducing the risk of bleeding during cardiac surgery, and others).

In December 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new medical technologies guidance (Zio XT for detecting cardiac arrhythmias), three Medtech innovation briefings (ReStore Soft Exo-Suit for gait rehabilitation, Cytosponge for detecting abnormal cells in the esophagus, and Evoke Spinal Cord Stimulator for managing chronic neuropathic or ischemic pain). Also, nine clinical guidance documents were updated.

On July 14, 2020, the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) announced a new framework for reimbursement of the app supporting rehabilitation program for the total hip or knee replacement (moveUP app). The pilot study will start on October 1, 2020, in 15 hospitals. Reimbursement to other patients is planned to be established by September 2021.

Domestic use of motor-driven moving splints (continuous passive motion, CPM) after interventions at the knee or shoulder joint remains covered by statutory health insurance. This has been determined by the G-BA (the Federal Joint Committee).

Dutch Health Care Authority (NZa) has been working on developing tariffs for diagnosis-related groups (DBCs) to reimburse special medical rehabilitation care (medisch-specialistische revalidatiezorg, msrz). Originally, it was planned to roll out new payment model (DRGs with national tariffs) in 2019, however, NZa decided that more time is needed to collect cost data to determine appropriate tariffs.