News and blog posts

31

Dec 2021

The French Ministry of Solidarity and Health constantly announces the new experiments initiated under Article 51 of the Social Security Financing Act. These experiments are focused on various topics concerning medical technologies and the organization of care. At the end of December 2021, new experiments were announced which relate to coordinated care of patients with long-term illnesses, telerehabilitation program for patients with COPD, care pathway for patients suffering from lymphedema, surgery for pterygium, and others. Read more

30

Dec 2021

The Council for Choices in Health Care in Finland (PALKO) has initiated the development of recommendations concerning companion diagnostic tests. The respective preparations were completed in November 2021. Read more

29

Dec 2021

In early December 2021, the Danish Health Authority (Sundhedsdatastyrelsen) has published DRG tariffs, as well as psychiatric and rehabilitation rates for 2022. Later on, in mid-December 2021, the DRG tariff system (Takstsystem) guide for 2022 was also published. Among other changes, seven new DRGs, specifically in ENT, endoscopy, obstetrics, and gynecology fields, were introduced. Read more

28

Dec 2021

In December 2021, three more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 27 health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory. Read more

27

Dec 2021

On December 17, 2021, NHS Digital released HRG4+ Consultation Grouper for 2022/23. This release is used to support the NHS England and Improvement consultation process for the 2022/23 National Tariff Payment System. In general, there are significant changes in base HRG design. A total of 120 new HRGs were created, multiple HRGs were removed, and the grouping logic was updated significantly. This Consultation Grouper will be superseded by the 2022/23 Local Payment Grouper in March 2022, for use from April 01, 2022. Read more

24

Dec 2021

In November 2021, twelve clinical guidelines, relating to gastrointestinal, ENT, orthopedic, and other disease areas, were released in Russia. Read more

23

Dec 2021

In November 2021, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in England released three MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned delivery for preterm birth, thoracolumbar fracture, and knee replacement. HTA Journal publishes research reports on the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage, and provide care in the NHS and informs National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. Read more

22

Dec 2021

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues two types of documents: HTA forms and motivational forms. With a regional decree 20520 of November 22, 2021, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of seventeen medical devices of various therapeutic areas, including devices belonging to neurology, as well as gastrointestinal, urology, cardiovascular, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, and other fields of care. Read more

21

Dec 2021

On December 06, 2021, the President of the Russian Federation signed the Federal Law on a budget of mandatory Health Insurance for 2022 and the planning period of 2023 and 2024. In accordance with the approved budget, the amount of High-end Medical Care outside the basic compulsory medical insurance program for federal clinics will be 109.9 billion RUB which is an increase of 2.7 billion RUB. Read more

20

Dec 2021

The new version of the classification of procedure codes (CCAM v.68) applicable from 09/12/2021 was published in France. Multiple changes were introduced, including registration of 22 new procedure codes, changes of notes and tariffs for procedure codes, removal of two codes, and other changes. New codes are related to procedures on the gastrointestinal tract, surgical procedures, peripheral vascular procedures, etc. Read more

17

Dec 2021

The Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) systematically evaluates healthcare technologies and practices from medical, economic, ethical, and social standpoints. The following assessments were initiated in the third quarter of 2021: ultrasound-guided arterial catheters insertion in adults, the basis for national guidelines for heart disease. The final reports will be published on the SBU website upon completion Read more

16

Dec 2021

On December 2, 2021, the Digital Health Strategy of the National Health System (SNS) was approved by the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) with an endowment of more than €675 million within the Transformation, Recovery, and Resilience Mechanism of the Government of Spain. The Digital Health Strategy is expected to promote the SNS values such as equity, sustainability, and transparency and boost the transformation of the SNS care model in the upcoming years. Read more