German benefit assessment

After successful trial application by the manufacturer (Okuvision) of a stimulation technology (Okustim), the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decided on a trial guideline for a co-funded study defining the key points of the planned study, including type and time period of the study, target population and control intervention. Results from the trial will be evaluated and may lead to reimbursement of the method in both, the inpatient and outpatient sectors.

Too little evidence was available to evaluate the efficacy and safety of liposuction for the treatment of lipedema in the inpatient sector in Germany. However, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) regards the method as a potential treatment alternative. It, therefore, plans a co-funded trial in cooperation with the manufacturer to create missing evidence with a start in 2018.

On 6th of September, the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) released announcement for manufacturers of OCT equipment to notify about their devices till 4th of October before G-BA makes the final decision about coverage of the procedure in out-patient settings within statutory health insurance. 

In 2016, Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) commissioned Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWIG) for benefit assessment of telemonitoring systems in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). In July 2017, IQWIG published a preliminary report. Due to lack of evidence, no benefit statement was made.

G-BA started review process for number of procedures for treatment of benign prostate enlargement in 2009. After publication of the results of rapid health technology assessment by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), G-BA was able to come to the conclusion in June 2017 about efficacy and safety of the thulium laser resection of prostate are well documented and procedure can be covered within statutory health insurance in Germany.

In March 2017, G-BA approved two additional indications for application of PET/CT for management of neck and head tumors in hospital settings after reevaluation of evidence by IQWiG in 2016. New indications concern decision making about need for neck dissection and laryngoscopic biopsy.

Recently the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWIG) published final report of evaluation extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with heel pain. On 31st of May, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) requested manufacturers for notification of their devices for extracorporeal shock wave therapy before final decision will be given.

German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has released information about results of benefit assessment (in connection to the §137h SGB V) for two methods: catheter-based lung denervation system for COPD and high-intensity focused ultrasound.