News and blog posts
03
Jan 2018
The current guideline replaces the previous version of the document of 2010. The Norwegian Directorate of Health decided to update the guideline because new methods of treatment and rehabilitation of stroke became avaliable in recent years.
Read more
02
Jan 2018
A 150-page reimbursement report covers angiography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), fractional flow reserve (FFR), cardiac computer tomography (CCT), optical coherence tomography (OCT) for angina and myocardial infarction in hospital settings. Stand-alone application of imaging / diagnostic methods and use in conjunction with percutaneous coronary intervention procedure was considered. The analysis covers procedure coding, payment mechanism, reimbursement tariffs and policy restrictions in 11 EU countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
Read more
29
Dec 2017
The Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) published results of assessments of home telemonitoring on patients with heart failure. This intervention was considered as effective and cost-effectiveness technology. However, further research is needed to specify criteria for better application.
Read more
28
Dec 2017
Assobiomedica published a report presenting the status of the ventilation and monitoring equipment installed across the public and private hospitals at 2016. The scenario pictured by the analysis appears to be critical considering the high number of units older than 10 years.
Read more
27
Dec 2017
The further-developed tariff structure SwissDRG was approved by the Federal Council in Switzerland. The new tariff version for inpatient services will be effective from January 1st in 2018. The tariff structure SwissDRG defines how inpatient services in the acute care area of the hospitals and birthplaces are reimbursed within the framework of compulsory health care insurance in Switzerland.
Read more
26
Dec 2017
A wireless sensor that better detects signs of sepsis in hospital patients, an app to help pregnant women monitor hypertension, and another that directs patients with minor injuries to treatment units with the shortest queues, are among the latest devices and technologies selected to join the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA).
Read more
25
Dec 2017
The Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has opened the proposal procedure for integrating the medical and scientific expertise in the further development of the G-DRG system for the year 2019. Proposals, e.g. add-on payments, DRG re-grouping and changes in coding guidelines or cost calculation can be submitted until March 31st, 2018.
Read more
22
Dec 2017
NICE recommends new tests to help diagnose asthma and a change in how medicines are offered.
Read more
21
Dec 2017
The Dutch National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) published a position paper with results of 4-years observation of transluminal endoscopic step-up approach in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis. In accordance to this document the procedure fulfils the criteria ‘state of science and practice’. The method can be reimbursed within basic health insurance.
Read more
20
Dec 2017
As part of its routine method evaluation, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) charged the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) with a benefit assessment of the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) compared to conventional methods of wound management in the inpatient sector in Germany. Currently, no restrictions exist for the use of NPWT in hospital settings. Based on the new evaluation report, the G-BA will re-assess the reimbursement status in the statutory health insurance.
Read more
19
Dec 2017
In the second half of November, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedures guidance (for hypoglossal nerve stimulation for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea and processed nerve allografts to repair peripheral nerve discontinuities).
Read more
18
Dec 2017
The meeting Improvement of Patient Quality of Life and Access to Innovation: Two Priorities in Medical Device Evaluations was organized by HAS on 24th of November to discuss evaluation principles of medical devices in France with manufacturers. In connection to the meeting new and updated policy documents were released.
Read more