Austria

In August 2019, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI-HTA) published updated evaluations of medical procedures previously assessed. Technologies that were revised are The Barricaid® device for annulus Fibrosus Repair after lumbar discectomy, single-step scaffold-based treatment (AMIC) and two-step scaffold-based treatment (MACI), radiofrequency denervation and electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve.

Technical overviews include details of application processes for procedure codes and payments (e.g. DRG), inclusion into health benefit catalogs. Overviews are available as presentations in Acrobat PDF.

Seminars on hospital reimbursement system for the Netherlands and Russia were added to the online school, as well as the webinar for the Austrian system. MTRC online school is the most cost-effective way to learn about reimbursement systems in a structured way.

In early May 2019, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI), has published a health technology assessment on robot-assisted surgery in thoracic and visceral indications as part of the EUnetHTA work.

In January 2019, the Austrian HTA body Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI) has published the update of their decision support document (DSD) 103, which concerns the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) therapy in primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest in patients at risk. The authors state that further research is necessary for the development of reliable conclusions.

In October 2018, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institue (LBI), published the update on the PET/PET-CT topic. The report was done together with the Berlin Technical University.

On 6th of September, 2018, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI-HTA) has released a report on external stimulation of the trigeminal nerve for the prevention and acute treatment of an episodic and chronic migraine. The method was not recommended for inclusion into catalogue of hospital benefits.

In mid-August 2018, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI), has published a health technology assessment in which they have assessed the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiotherapy (Cyberknife®), proton beam therapy and irreversible electroporation (Nanoknife®) for localized prostate cancer (PCa). It was concluded, there is inadequate and insufficient evidence to show that three evaluated technologies have either a positive impact on survival and quality of life or the ability to prevent or delay prostatectomy.

On 20th of July, 2018, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI) has published HTA of meniscal allograft transplantation for post-meniscectomy syndrome in Austria. It was concluded that there is not enough evidence demonstrating benefits in order to include MAT into the Austrian benefit catalogue.

On 20th of July, 2018, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI) has published HTA of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells for Crohn’s disease-associated complex perianal fistulas. Currently, inclusion into Austrian catalogue of benefits was not recommended with reevaluation in 2022.

On 20th of July, 2018, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI) has published an evaluation of baroreceptor activation therapy for treatment-resistant hypertension. The authors concluded that there is no sufficient evidence to conclude on effectiveness or safety of BAT and thus inclusion of the procedure into the Austrian benefit catalogue is not recommended. There are currently three RCTs going on, and their results may bring new evidence.

In mid-August 2018, the Austrian HTA body, the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute (LBI), has published an evaluation of efficacy and safety of carbon ion beam radiotherapy (CIRT) for twelve oncological indications.