News and blog posts
23
Aug 2021
The NHS Digital has opened the application period for changes in the OPCS-4 nomenclature of procedure codes, which is updated every three years. The applications can be submitted via Request Submission Portal not later than October 01, 2021, to be implemented in the OPCS-4.10 version from April 01, 2023.
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20
Aug 2021
On July 30, 2021, the final version of the French DRG manual was published on the website of the Technical Agency for Information on Hospitalizations (ATIH). No new DRGs or other changes compared to the preliminary version published in March 2021 have been introduced.
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19
Aug 2021
Earlier this year, the Spanish authorities introduced endobronchial valves for persistent air leakage into the Common Package of Benefits of the National Health System. This decision was based on the reports (HTA report and monitoring study) by the Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS). On July 22, 2021, the Resolution outlining the conditions for the provision of the service was published.
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18
Aug 2021
In late July 2021, two new COVID-19 antigen tests were added to the Laboratory Test Nomenclature (Laboratoriotutkimusnimikkeistö) in Finland.
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17
Aug 2021
In late July 2021, NHS England opened a call for applications to the High Cost Device List (HCDL) changes for the 2022/23 National Tariff Payment System. The completed application form should be submitted via email by September 30, 2021. HCDL is an add-on reimbursement for medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic tests, so the amount is paid in addition to the payment for regular care.
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16
Aug 2021
On July 29, 2021, the French Ministry of Solidarity and Health published the instruction related to the 2021 application for coverage with evidence development programs. In the instruction, the specific fields of research, the application procedures, and the deadlines for applications for different types of projects (PHRC, PRME, PREPS, PRT) are specified.
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13
Aug 2021
In July 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new Interventional Procedure Guidance (inducing and maintaining normothermia using temperature modulation devices to improve outcomes after stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage) and four new Medtech Innovation Briefings (HealthVCF for detecting vertebral compression fractures on CT scans, trublood-prostate for triaging and diagnosing people with prostate cancer symptoms, AI technologies for detecting diabetic retinopathy, and Acumen IQ sensor for predicting hypotension risk).
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12
Aug 2021
On July 30, 2021, the Swiss Federal Statistics Office (UFS) published the 2022 version of the procedure code (CHOP) nomenclature in the German language. The newly introduced codes concern various technology groups, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurology, interventional radiology, orthopedics, gynecology, and others.
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11
Aug 2021
In June 2021, NICE announced developing a multi-agency advisory service for developers and adopters of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies, funded by NHS AI Lab. NICE is working in partnership with the Care Quality Commission, Health Research Authority, and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
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10
Aug 2021
In July 2021, the Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA) published six new decision support documents and one update to a previous decision support document. The assessed topics included percutaneous left ventricular assist devices, liposuction for surgical therapy of lipoedema, triphasic biomaterial for augmentation of the osteoporotic femoral neck, endoscopic plication therapy in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allogenic bone screw Shark Screw® in patients with hallux valgus or scaphoid fractures/pseudarthroses, and surgical interventions for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The updated decision support document concerned implantable bulking agents for fecal incontinence.
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09
Aug 2021
On July 16, 2021, NICE announced a new approach to prioritizing requests for NICE Scientific Advice. Because of the increased engagement, the waiting time for new scientific advice projects is currently several months. To address this, from December 2021, NICE will reserve priority slots in the work plan for companies developing high-priority technologies for the NHS.
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06
Aug 2021
In July 2021, the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency released two completed health economic evaluations on the cost-effectiveness of the Oncotype DX and ProSigna tests. The evaluation was performed at the request of the Medical Technology Product (MTP) Council. The cost per quality-adjusted life-years for ProSigna is estimated to be 207,000 SEK compared to the stand-alone clinical pathology assessment. The analysis indicates that the use of Oncotype DX provides greater benefit than the alternative, also at a lower cost.
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