News and blog posts
14
Jul 2020
In June 2020, the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS) published an assessment report on the effectiveness and safety of bilateral implantation of non-cochlear hearing implants in Spain.
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13
Jul 2020
New material codes and related conditions of reimbursement for an isolated iliac bifurcation endoprosthesis were added to the List of reimbursable devices of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) in June 2020.
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10
Jul 2020
On 22nd June 2020, the company in charge of the development of the DRG system in Switzerland, SwissDRG SA, has announced the catalog version of SwissDRG 10.0/2021 (2018/2021). Seven days later, the planning version of SwissDRG (2019/2021) has been published as well.
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09
Jul 2020
On 05 June 2020, mHealthBelgium announced the activation of Level 2 of the validation pyramid. This indicates that health applications that meet certain criteria can achieve Level 2. The National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI) is working on the next step (level 3) - to introduce a structural framework for funding.
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08
Jul 2020
On June 18, 2020, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland, ZIN) announced four medical procedures which received a subsidy under the new innovative payment scheme: FFRct technique in the diagnosis of patients with chest pain; oral esketamine in patients with severe, non-psychotic, treatment-resistant depression; left atrial appendage closure in patients with atrial fibrillation and endolymphatic duct blockage in patients with uncontrollable Meniere's disease.
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07
Jul 2020
In June 2020, NHS England announced that it is accelerating the use of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) requiring fewer doses than standard radiotherapy, decreasing the number of hospital visits that potentially vulnerable patients need to undergo. It will now be available through the NHS by the end of the current financial year, rather than full rollout by 2022.
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06
Jul 2020
The French High Authority for Health (HAS) regularly publishes new decisions about add-on reimbursement for medical devices. The decisions made in June 2020 concern various types of devices, including total lumbar disc prostheses, arthroscopic meniscal repair system, vagus nerve stimulation system, and medical aids. A total of 10 decisions were made.
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03
Jul 2020
The Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII) in Spain analyzed the effectiveness and safety of the endovenous ablation of varicose saphenous veins with cyanoacrylate closure system in patients with moderate to severe chronic venous insufficiency compared to surgical procedures, as of saphenous vein stripping, and other endovenous ablation techniques. In the report, published on the website in 2020, it was outlined that despite the limitations found in selected studies, intravenous sealing with cyanoacrylates seems to be a promising alternative to existing treatments, especially in terms of less use of anesthesia and compression bandage, as well as shorter recovery time.
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02
Jul 2020
In June 2020, two new apps entered the level 1 of the mHealthBelgium validation pyramid. Guardian Connect smartphone application is a component of the Guardian Connect Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system for diabetes management. The icompanion software is a decision-making tool that helps physicians to choose medication for patients with multiple sclerosis.
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01
Jul 2020
On 9 May 2020, the Reimbursement Commission made changes to the SUT regarding response to the COVID-19 pandemic and introduced codes for IVD tests for Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcriptase PCR and detection of Covid-19 antigen, IgG, IgM.
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30
Jun 2020
In early June 2020, the Austrian Ministry of Health published recommendations for further actions in the establishment of systematic HTA in the Austrian healthcare system, which were developed by the Federal Target Steering Commission in April.
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29
Jun 2020
On June 23, 2020, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced several changes in the coverage of benefits that will take place soon. They regard transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), adjustments in the List of Aids (EMAp/MiGeL) (including reimbursement for CPAP devices and mechanical ventilation at home, and adjustments in the List of Analyses (AL/EA).
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