In December 2024, the Austrian Institute for HTA published a project report on the threshold values in health economic evaluations and decision-making. It concluded that, despite their complexity, implementing thresholds could enhance transparency and efficiency in health systems.

Aug 2024

eHealth Strategy for digitization in healthcare presented in Austria

On July 10, 2024, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) informed that the federal government, states, and sickness funds had defined their priorities for digitizing the healthcare system within the healthcare reform. The corresponding document, “eHealth Strategy Austria”, was presented on July 10, 2024, outlining the priorities up to 2030.

Jul 2024

New med tech-related decision support documents published in Austria

On July 15, 2024, the Austrian Institute for HTA (AIHTA) published three decision support documents that provide recommendations regarding the inclusion of new medical interventions in the catalog of individual medical services (MEL) for reimbursement, as well as two updates to previous decision support documents. The decisions relate to cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, interventional radiology, neuromodulation, and endocrine technology groups.

Jul 2024

The 2025 DRG (LKF) model announced in Austria

On June 26, 2024, the document "Changes and innovations in the 2025 LKF model" (Änderungen und Neuerungen in den LKF-Modellen 2025) was published. The document summarizes the most significant changes and innovations in the LKF model for inpatient and outpatient care. The newly added procedure codes mainly concern e-health, interventional radiology, pulmonary and airways, and surgical procedures fields.

Jun 2024

Agreement on the implementation of healthcare reform in Austria to improve digital care

On June 7, 2024, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) informed that the federal government, states, and sickness funds have agreed on concrete actions to implement healthcare reform. The reform will focus on various aspects, such as establishment of special outpatient clinics, the expansion of primary care, and improvement of the situation of digital healthcare.

Mar 2024

Rapid reviews of three health technologies published in Austria in January-March 2024

In January-March 2023, the Austrian Institute for HTA published Rapid reviews of three health technologies: liposuction for the removal of subcutaneous (large) lipomas, biomarkers in Parkinson's disease, and the use of telepathology in intraoperative frozen section examination.

Feb 2024

The Austrian Institute for HTA published the 2023 annual HTA report

On February 08, 2024, the Austrian Institute for HTA (AIHTA) published the 2023 annual HTA report. The report contains AIHTA works, activities, and publications in 2023, including medical technologies belonging to technology groups such as robotic surgery, diagnostic imaging, and neurology.

Jan 2024

Rapid reviews of two health technologies published in Austria in December 2023

In December 2023, the Austrian Institute for HTA published Rapid reviews of two health technologies: endovenous laser therapy for varicose veins of the lower extremities and autologous fat transplantation for osteoarthritis.

Oct 2023

Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) sets priorities in 2024 health reform

On October 18, 2023, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) announced that its budget would increase by 3.9 billion to 25.8 billion euros (by 18%) in the coming year. 1.1 billion euros from the budget will be allocated for the health care reform, which will be implemented as part of the financial equalization.

Aug 2023

New med tech-related decision support documents published in Austria

On July 17, 2022, the Austrian Institute for HTA (AIHTA) published four decision support documents, which provide recommendations regarding the inclusion of new medical interventions in the catalog of individual medical services of the performance-oriented hospital financing (Leistungsorientierten Krankenanstaltenfinanzierung, LKF) model, as well as three updates to previous decision support documents.

Jul 2023

The 2024 DRG model announced in Austria

On July 3, 2023, the document "Changes and innovations in the 2024 LKF model" (Änderungen und Neuerungen in den LKF-Modellen 2024) was published. The document summarizes the most significant changes and innovations in the LKF model for inpatient and outpatient care. The newly added procedure codes mainly concern endoscopic procedures, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, and pulmonary and airways fields.

Jun 2023

Publications Digest: Reimbursement practices for use of digital devices in atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias: a European Heart Rhythm Association survey

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Boriani et al. evaluated the expectations and opinions of healthcare professionals in Europe on reimbursement policies for the use of digital devices (including wearables) in atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias. The study summarized information about the use of digital devices, trust in digital technologies, and availability of reimbursement of digital technologies in individual EU countries.