Publication Digest: Living Health Technology Assessment: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities

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, Lavaste investigated the relationship between primary care provision and the uptake of voluntary private health insurance (VPHI) in Finland. By analyzing the data obtained from the national registry and incorporating data on healthcare provider proximity and reimbursement fees, the study reveals that sociodemographic factors (employment, levels of income and education) and patients’ preference are key factors in VPHI uptake and not the (dis)satisfaction with the care provision in public settings. Furthermore, proximity to private (but not public) healthcare providers supports VPHI uptake.

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, Vettoretto et al. conducted a Health Technology Assessment in Italy to evaluate the potential benefits of high-energy devices (HEDs) compared to standard monopolar or bipolar devices in various surgical settings. By using various methods, such as literature review, questionnaires, and health-economic tools, the study found that HEDs could lead to reductions in operating time and length of stay, as well as generate significant organizational savings. The authors highlighted the strategic relevance, economic sustainability, and process improvement potential of HEDs in surgical practice.

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, Benedetto et al. conducted a systematic review to evaluate the analytical frameworks and outcome measures used in economic evaluations of digital health interventions (DHIs). By synthesizing arguments from 15 studies, the authors identified limitations in using traditional health-related quality of life measures and proposed a set of methodological recommendations, including the use of impact matrices, cost-consequence analysis, and analyses of equity impacts. This review provides valuable insights for future economic evaluations of DHIs and advances the understanding of measuring their effects beyond health outcomes.

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, Veldwijk et al. conducted a study to assess the importance of criteria describing methods for decision-makers in the medical product lifecycle (MPLC) and evaluate the suitability of various preference elicitation methods at each decision point. Using multicriteria decision analysis, an online survey was conducted among MPLC decision makers, who ranked and weighted 19 methods criteria. The results showed that criteria related to estimating trade-offs and weights for treatment characteristics were consistently important across all MPLC decision points. Additionally, swing weighting and probabilistic threshold techniques were found to be more suitable than other methods. The study highlights the need to consider other preference elicitation methods and suggests the development of evidence-based guidelines for their effective utilization.

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, Egholm et al. investigated the implementation of a national patient-reported outcomes (PRO) policy in Denmark which aims to enhance patient-centered approaches in healthcare and realize benefits at the individual patient level. The paper outlines the three key elements: developing standardized PRO instruments within specific clinical areas, establishing a PRO instrument repository, and creating a national IT infrastructure for data sharing. Furthermore, the authors provided an overview of the progress made after six years of implementation, highlighting the promising value of PRO instruments for both patients and healthcare professionals, as well as challenges in operationalizing the IT infrastructure and implementation across healthcare sectors.