China establishes a pre-listing system for medical service prices to promote faster implementation of medical innovation achievements

On September 15, the National Healthcare Security Administration issued a notice to pilot a preestablishment system for medical service price items. It will conduct price policy evaluations in advance for highlevel new medical technologies and new products, so that price establishment can be completed more quickly after formal approval for clinical use, allowing innovative achievements to serve patients earlier. In the past, price establishment for new medical technologies and devices usually began only after the relevant approvals were obtained, making the process relatively lengthy. Under the new system, the acceptance time will be moved up to the clinical research stage. Eligible new technologies and new products may be accepted and evaluated in advance by provincial healthcare security departments, and once formally approved, price establishment and application approval will be connected seamlessly. The policy mainly supports three types of innovative projects: new technologies with high clinical value and breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment methods; new devices that can solve major diagnostic and treatment challenges and improve efficiency and precision; and new consumables that fill gaps in diagnosis and treatment, are primarily patientbenefit oriented, and can change surgical plans. The National Healthcare Security Administration also emphasized that preestablishment does not mean lowering standards. Routine reagents and projects that merely iterate and upgrade on the basis of existing products are not included in the scope of support.