Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas remains covered by statutory health insurance in Germany

The non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a form of lymphatic cancer, a disease of the hematopoietic system. If the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are considered as not sufficient, stem cell transplantation (SCT) could be considered as an option. If the stem cells transferred in this way come from the patient himself, this is referred to as an autologous transplant. Since there is no undesirable immune reaction, this therapeutic option is usually preferable. In the case of allogeneic SCT, the stem cells from another person are transferred.

The G-BA stated that allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adult patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHL) in relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation and response to salvage therapy, is sufficient, appropriate and economically reasonable for the insured and therefore remains the benefit of the statutory health insurance as part of hospital treatment.

It should be noted, that in May 2019, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has published a final report in which investigated whether patients with B-NHL have (better) chances of recovery in case of allogeneic SCT treatment and outlined that the benefit remains unclear.

The G-BA decision in German can be found here.

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