Project Lead: Reinhard Jeindl
Authors: Reinhard Jeindl, Julia Mayer-Ferbas
Duration: Q1 to Q4 2026
Language: English (with German summary)
Low-value care (LVC) refers to healthcare services that are ineffective, inappropriate, or not cost-effective and may contribute to overuse, misuse, or underuse of healthcare resources. Reducing such services can help free up resources and improve the efficiency of the healthcare system.
The AIHTA was commissioned to conduct a rapid review of international approaches to the systematic identification, reassessment, and removal of low-value care from benefit packages and reimbursement schedules. The review focuses on institutional disinvestment processes, the role of Health Technology Reassessment (HTR) as an evidence base for decision-making, and strategies for communicating disinvestment decisions to relevant stakeholders. The aim is to synthesise international experience and translate it into practical policy options for the Austrian healthcare context. The findings are intended to support the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) in particular in the harmonisation of reimbursement schedules.