Health economics

In late June 2023, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) published a report on relevance of transversal budget impact analysis. This type of analysis should be submitted as part of the application to the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) to obtain reimbursement for implants and invasive medical devices.

MTRC is the leading provider of market access services in Europe. Since 2017 we have accomplished 700+ projects in Europe. We provide regular consulting services to 56% of top 30 med tech companies and multiple SMEs. The typical scope of model adaptation includes adjustment of epidemiological data, validation of comparator, an adaptation of resource use and cost data, and search for local utility data. MTRC has a unique ability to work on model adaptations due to its unparalleled knowledge of payment systems in 34 European countries. We worked on model adaptations in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

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, Conrads-Frank et al. performed a critical review of decision-analytic modeling studies to inform early HTA for high-risk medical devices. The study presented a summary of methodological approaches, and made a number of recommendations about technical aspects of health economic analysis for medical devices.

At the beginning of April 2021, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation released the final report on key results of 2020 and main targets for 2021. One of the key achievements is the increased number of medical organizations licensed to conduct high-end medical care (reached 629, including 141 federal centers).

According to the available financial results, published by the German Federal Ministry of Health, the German statutory health insurance companies reported a total deficit of around 2.65 billion euros in 2020. The health fund reported a deficit of 3.49 billion euros in 2020. As of January 15, 2021, the health fund's liquidity reserve was around 5.9 billion euros.

In July 2020, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) issued an update of the methodological guide for the economic evaluation of medical technologies. The main changes aimed to improve the interpretation of the results and the uncertainty, to clarify technical points, and to integrate methodological changes that have occurred since 2011.

MTRC has developed three reports on the key market access topics, including innovation funding, health technology assessment and funding frameworks for medical devices. These reports help to understand the relevance of these frameworks to certain types of medical technologies, including endocrine technologies. This post provides some key facts about the HTA, funding and innovation payment landscape for endocrine devices in Europe.

In response to multiple requests from our clients, we have started the provision of service of health economic modeling for medical technologies and IVD tests in Europe. Both early and comprehensive models eligible for publication are supported.

Using its deep expertise in payment systems in Europe, MTRC has started provision of service of cost analysis to inform the development of health economic models and adaptation of existing models to settings of 19 European countries.

An article “An early analysis of cost-utility of baroreflex activation therapy in advanced chronic heart failure in Germany” was published in the BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. The study concluded that Baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) using the Barostim neo™ device (CVRx Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) compared with optimized medical management in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (NYHA class III) who were not eligible for treatment with cardiac resynchronization therapy, can be cost-effective from a statutory health insurance perspective in Germany over a lifetime horizon. The ICER was €27,951/QALY (95% CI €21,357–82,970).

A wireless sensor that better detects signs of sepsis in hospital patients, an app to help pregnant women monitor hypertension, and another that directs patients with minor injuries to treatment units with the shortest queues, are among the latest devices and technologies selected to join the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA).

Article “Cost-utility analysis of bariatric surgery compared with conventional medical management in Germany: a decision analytic modeling” was published in the BMC Surgery. Surgery was found cost-effective at 10-year time horizon and cost saving over life time of operated cohort. Delay in provision of surgery led to reduction of gained health benefits.