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Publications Digest

07
May 2025

Health Economic Publication Digest: An Application of the Checklist for Health Economic Quality Evaluations in a Systematic Review Setting

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Health Economic Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Dijk et al. piloted the CHEQUE tool in the context of systematic reviews of health economic studies in medical education, aiming to assess its usability and inform future improvements. The authors applied CHEQUE to 21 economic evaluations, uncovering a wide range in quality scores (18%‒94%) and a positive correlation between methodological rigor and reporting standards. The study highlighted CHEQUE’s value as a structured assessment tool but also pointed to the need for refinements to reduce complexity and enhance clarity.
06
May 2025

Publication Digest: Negotiating pricing and payment terms for insurance covered mHealth apps: a qualitative content analysis and taxonomy development based on a German experience

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, Freitag et al. explored negotiation strategies for pricing and reimbursement of prescription-based mHealth apps (DiGA) in Germany. Based on 16 expert interviews, the authors introduced a four-step framework detailing price determination, payment conditions, payment modalities, and negotiation governance. Statutory insurers expressed a preference for usage-based pricing, while a value-based care model was identified as delivering the greatest patient benefit.
05
May 2025

EU HTA Publication Digest: Access in all areas? A roundup of developments in market access and health technology assessment: part 6

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its EU HTA Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Pannelay et al. explored the evolving challenges of implementing the EU Health Technology Assessment Regulation, highlighting the burden of aligning national PICO requirements across Member States. The study showed that up to 720 evidence analyses per product may be required ‒ covering various permutations of population, comparator, and outcome ‒ raising serious concerns about feasibility and submission quality. The article also presented a user guide for applying generalized cost-effectiveness analysis to better capture societal value and examined the ongoing debate over NICE’s implementation of the severity modifier tool in the UK.
02
May 2025

Sustainability Publication Digest: The carbon footprint and energy consumption of liver transplantation

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Sustainability Publications Digest. In a recent publication, De Simone et al. evaluated the environmental impact of liver transplantation procedures performed in Italy by a retrospective bottom-up approach. The authors assessed energy use, waste, anesthetic consumption, and units of blood products transfused for each transplant. The study revealed that each transplant procedure generated about 310 kg of CO₂ emissions, with operating room energy consumption contributing the largest share. The findings highlight the importance of engaging transplant clinicians, hospital administrators, policymakers, and patients in efforts to promote more sustainable practices.
30
Apr 2025

Health Economic Publication Digest: Economic Considerations in Designs and Modifications of Multiarm, Multistage Adaptive and Adaptive Platform Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Literature Review

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Health Economic Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Kachapila et al. conducted a systematic review to investigate the integration of economic evaluations into multiarm, multistage, adaptive Randomized Controlled Trials. The review included 17 articles, with four reporting results of economic evaluations and 13 presenting economic evaluation protocols. Although costs and benefits could be estimated at interim stages in 14 studies, only five interim cost-effectiveness analyses were performed, and just three influenced decisions to drop or maintain trial arms. Overall, the use of economic evidence remains limited, despite its potential value in guiding adaptive decisions.
29
Apr 2025

Publication Digest: A Systematic Literature Review of Important and Meaningful Differences in the EQ-5D Index and Visual Analog Scale Scores

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, Al Sayah et al. conducted a systematic literature review to summarize and evaluate minimally important difference (MID) estimates for EQ-5D instruments. The review included 90 studies reporting 840 MID estimates and revealed a wide variability in MID values depending on the population, estimation method, and EQ-5D version. The findings emphasize the need for context-specific MID selection when interpreting EQ-5D outcomes.
28
Apr 2025

EU HTA Publication Digest: Mapping methods gaps between EU joint clinical assessments and local health technology assessment decision-making: an environmental scan of guidance in select EU markets and harmonization challenges

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its EU HTA Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Sarri et al. investigated the methodological alignment between EU joint clinical assessments and national HTA requirements in France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Spain. While the study found strong consensus on the need for systematic evidence generation, national agencies diverged in their guidance on evidence derived from indirect treatment comparisons. These findings highlight the challenges health technology developers face in meeting both EU-wide and local evidentiary demands.
25
Apr 2025

Sustainability Publication Digest: The environmental impact of inhalers: a framework for sustainable prescription practices in Spain

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Sustainability Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Garin et al. developed a framework to promote sustainable inhaler prescriptions in Spain. The authors created a national database and decision-making algorithm to integrate environmental impact into clinical decision-making processes. Their analysis found that targeted shifts from high-emission pressurized metered-dose inhalers to dry powder inhalers could yield substantial environmental benefits. The study offers actionable insights for aligning respiratory treatment practice with environmental sustainability.
24
Apr 2025

Publication Digest: Business Venturing in Regulated Markets-Taxonomy and Archetypes of Digital Health Business Models in the European Union: Mixed Methods Descriptive and Exploratory Study

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, Weimar et al. developed a taxonomy and identified six archetypes of business models used by digital health technologies (DHTs) in the European Union. Drawing from 169 real-world DHT cases and 13 expert interviews, the study categorized models as: (1) administration and communication supporter, (2) insurer-to-consumer digital therapeutics and care, (3) diagnostic and treatment enabler, (4) professional monitoring platforms, (5) clinical research and solution accelerators, and (6) direct-to-consumer wellness and lifestyle. The authors identified three key innovation drivers in the DHT commercialization landscape: the direct targeting of patients and private individuals, the use of artificial intelligence as an enabler, and the development of DHT-specific reimbursement pathways.
21
Apr 2025

EU HTA Publication Digest: Avoiding Error and Finding the Right Balance in European Health Technology Assessments: Insights Generated by the European Access Academy

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its EU HTA Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Julian et al. investigated how EU stakeholders perceive key challenges in implementing EU Regulation 2021/2282 on Health Technology Assessment. Drawing on survey data and structured discussions at the 2024 European Access Academy, the authors found that 65.5 % of respondents reported insufficient expert involvement in joint assessments, only 37.9 % anticipated faster national decision-making, and views on conflict-of-interest transparency were mixed. Stakeholders prioritized earlier and broader expert engagement, stronger EMA–EU HTA coordination, and increased national-level support.
16
Apr 2025

Sustainability Publication Digest: Greenhouse gas emissions due to inhalation anaesthetics in the Netherlands, usage data and a survey of preferences among Dutch anaesthesiologists

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Sustainability Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Friedericy et al. assessed the environmental footprint of inhalation anaesthetics in Dutch hospitals and surveyed anaesthesiologists on practice patterns. A comprehensive 2019 bottom-up evaluation of anaesthetic agent procurement across the Netherlands was conducted. The analysis revealed relatively low greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to the widespread preference for intravenous anaesthesia and the limited use of inhalation-based techniques.
15
Apr 2025

Publication Digest: Death of the P Value? Bayesian Statistics for Orthopedic Surgeons

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, Polmear et al. examined the growing application of Bayesian statistical methods in orthopedic research, highlighting their advantages over traditional P value-based approaches. The authors emphasized how Bayesian analysis can offer more nuanced interpretations in clinical contexts. Through practical examples ‒ such as diagnostic decision-making in prosthetic joint infection and comparative analysis from the orthopedic trial ‒ the review illustrated key Bayesian concepts and offered guidance for critically evaluating such studies.