First health app reimbursement submissions in Germany

On February 17, 2022, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has decided to include the method of matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (M-ACI) on the knee joint in the case of symptomatic cartilage damage in the lists of reimbursed procedures in the hospital and ambulatory settings.

The NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme (NIPP) is commissioned by the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It is designed to accelerate the evaluation and implementation of innovation that supports post-pandemic ways of working, builds service resilience, and delivers benefits to patients. Fourteen projects have been funded and have now commenced activity that will be ongoing until March 2023.

On February 21, 2022, it was announced by the Ministry of Health that the public consultation regarding the Draft Order amending the Common Package of Benefits of the National Health System (SNS) was open. The amendments and clarifications are related to the fields of in-vitro diagnostics, ENT, pulmonary and airways, e-health, neurology, dental care, radiology, and enteral nutrition.

The Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) initiated a study aimed at defining a clear and transparent procedure for the evaluation of digital health technologies in Belgium.

In February 2022, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment announced the release of the seven accomplished rapid hospital assessments performed by the Helsinki, Tampere, and Oulu University Hospital. The accomplished rapid HTAs concern the diagnostic imaging, e-Health, endocrine, endoscopy, men’s health, neuromodulation technology groups.