Imaging methods

In July 2026, the Dutch government allocated €102.5 million to strengthen the national MedTech ecosystem. The initiative responds to the MedTech Growth Plan and aims to address healthcare workforce shortages and rising demand for care by supporting innovation, implementation, and closer cooperation among industry, healthcare providers, and research institutions.

As of July 2026, the Skåne University Hospital (HTA South) is working on health technology assessments in several areas, including neuromodulation, nephrology, and diagnostic imaging. Although HTA conclusions are generally not binding on hospitals, they may influence clinical practice and support regional coverage recommendations.

On June 29, 2026, the document "Changes and innovations in the 2027 LKF model" was published. The document summarizes the most significant changes and innovations in the LKF model for inpatient and outpatient care. The procedure codes expected to be introduced in 2027 mainly concern cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-Health, neuromodulation, and surgical procedures.

On October 18, 2025, the Decision of the National Union of Health Insurance Funds (UNCAM) on the update of the list of procedures and services covered by the Health Insurance, including the CCAM Classification, was published. The updates do not include new codes and concern adjustments of tariffs and billing rules for conventional radiology procedures. The Decision also implements the update of technical packages for CT scanners, MRIs, and PET scans set by the Medical Convention.

On July 9, 2024, the updated Finnish classification of procedures (THL) was published to come into force on August 1, 2024. Forty-three new procedure codes were implemented concerning diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, neurovascular, radiology, and other fields.

In September 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (removal, preservation, and reimplantation of ovarian tissue for restoring fertility, transurethral water-jet ablation for lower urinary tract symptoms, cryotherapy for chronic rhinitis), and three Health Technology Evaluations using early value assessment (AI-derived software to analyze chest X-rays for suspected lung cancer, AI technologies to aid contouring for radiotherapy planning, KardiaMobile 6L for adults having antipsychotic medication). Also, two new clinical guidelines were published, and three were updated.

On August 11, 2024, the BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices) published the preliminary version of the 2024 OPS procedure coding classification. The OPS, together with the ICD-10-GM (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, German Modification), forms the basis for the reimbursement systems in inpatient and outpatient care in Germany.

In July 2022, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) awarded 12 projects under the 2023 Open Round of the Efficiency Research program with a budget intended for funding research into clinical and cost-effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical care.

On May 25, 2022, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) published an updated List of reimbursable devices that came into force on June 01, 2022. A total of 12 new codes with the corresponding conditions of reimbursement were added to the List, which concerned sacral neurostimulation in fecal incontinence treatment, soft tissue markers, and osteosynthesis devices.

On January 20, 2022, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) launched a consultation on the latest set of guidance (List 3) of the Evidence-based Interventions (EBI) Programme. EBI program develops guidance sets (Lists) for tests, treatments, and procedures based on recommendations from the Expert Advisory Committee and NICE assessments. Proposed List 3 covers 17 interventions across a range of medical specialties, including cardiology, ophthalmology, urology, and others. The deadline for comments submission is March 31, 2022.

In November 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (percutaneous implantation of pulmonary artery pressure sensors in chronic heart failure and coronary sinus narrowing device implantation for refractory angina), one new Medical Technologies Guidance (Synergo for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer), one new Diagnostic Guidance (SeHCAT for diagnosing bile acid diarrhea), and four new Medtech Innovation Briefings (clonoSEQ for minimal residual disease, CerebAir for continuous EEG monitoring, 24/7 EEG SubQ for epilepsy, Paige Prostate for prostate cancer). Also, three new clinical guidelines were published, and six were updated.

In June 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (laser lithotripsy for difficult-to-treat bile duct stones and percutaneous insertion of a closure device to repair a paravalvular leak around a replaced mitral or aortic valve), one new Medical Technologies Guidance (Plus Sutures for preventing surgical site infection), and four new Medtech Innovation Briefings (RapidAI for analyzing CT/MRI brain scans, WoundExpress, Magtrace and Sentimag, and SYNE-COV). Also, four clinical guidelines were updated, and two new published.