Austria

In July 2020, the Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA) published updated evaluations of medical procedures previously assessed. Technologies that were revised are leadless pacemaker for right ventricle pacing and extracorporeal cytokine hemadsorption therapy in patients with sepsis or SIRS.

In July 2020, the Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA) published five decision support documents. The assessed technologies included implantation of a wireless pulmonary artery pressure sensor in patients with advanced heart failure, intrauterine ultrasound-guided transcervical radiofrequency ablation, percutaneous transvascular implantation of a coronary sinus reducing stent, radiofrequency-induced intravesical chemohyperthermia for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, and Vascular photodynamic therapy with Padeliporfin (Tookad® solution).

On June 16, 2020, HTA Austria – Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA), issued an updated report on the indications for proton and carbon ion therapy with an overview of confirmed indications, indications that are only recommended under clinical research, and excluded indications.

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.

Thirteen new MELs (DRGs) were introduced into the LKF 2020 model for the inpatient and outpatient settings.

Twenty-five new diagnosis codes were implemented and changed in the Austrian version of ICD-10 2020 of the LKF model 2020

Sixty-three new procedure codes and other changes were introduced into the service catalog of the LKF model 2020 for the inpatient and outpatient area in Austria.

On March 27, 2020, the BMSGPK release the notes with the rules on diagnosis coding and administrative documentation for COVID-19 in hospitals as part of the project "Performance-based hospital financing (LKF)."

On January 1, 2020, as a part of healthcare reform in Austria, the Austrian health insurance fund (Die Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK)) was created by merging the nine former regional health insurance funds. The ÖGK is based in Vienna.

On the 10th of December 2019, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI-HTA) has released a report on the implementation of an HPV screening test for the early detection of cervical cancer in women as a measure of cervical cancer prevention. The recommendations are positive.

On the 2nd of September 2019, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI-HTA) has released a report on guideline recommendations comprising screening for diabetes mellitus.

In August 2019, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI-HTA) published four decision support documents. The assessed technologies are osteochondral allograft transplantation, allograft for anterior and posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, human dermal allograft, and 177 Lutetium.