High-intensity focused ultrasound

On May 01, 2025, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the first release of the 2026 DRG package (RZ26a). Three new procedure codes, seven new supplementary payments (OZPs), one new diagnosis code, and two new DRGs will be implemented across in-vitro diagnostics, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology and neurosurgery, cardiovascular and other technology groups.

On May 23, 2024, the 2024 working plan was published by the Spanish Network of HTA Agencies (RedETS). Topics in cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, endoscopy, ENT, extracorporeal treatments, ICU/OR, in-vitro diagnostics, interventional radiology, men’s health, neurology and neurosurgery, neuromodulation, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, pulmonary and airways, radiology, radiotherapy, robotic surgery, spine, surgical procedures, and some other fields are included in the plan.

In February 2024, the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) is working on several HTAs, including evaluations in the cardiovascular, e-health, ENT, IVD, and some other fields.

On February 08, 2024, the Austrian Institute for HTA (AIHTA) published the 2023 annual HTA report. The report contains AIHTA works, activities, and publications in 2023, including medical technologies belonging to technology groups such as robotic surgery, diagnostic imaging, and neurology.

In December 2023, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) published two coverage positions on high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with essential tremor with positive recommendation for coverage under basic insurance package, and on radiotherapy with magnetic resonance linear accelerator, which was not recommended for coverage under the basic insurance package.