Development, evaluation and application of a method to assess individual medical services 2008

Project lead: Gerald Gartlehner, Rosemarie Felder-Puig
Duration: July 2007 - March 2008

Objective: Each year, the Austrian Ministry of Health, Family and Youth receives suggestions for numerous new medical interventions to get reimbursed. The aim of this project is to develop a standardized tool to evaluate the scientific evidence for these interventions. The project consists of two parts. The objective of the first part (July - December 2007) is the development of an algorithm to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventions, suggested to be included into the MEL (German for: individual medical services) catalogue. A preliminary algorithm, based on the methods manual of the LBI-HTA, will be tested by multiple persons and refined based on consensus. During the second part of the project (January - March 2008), 20 interventions that were prioritized by the Ministry of Health for inclusion into the MEL catalogue will be systematically evaluated. The assessments will be based on systematic reviews for each intervention and a summary of the scientific evidence according to the GRADE scheme.

Methods: Development of an algorithm and a report format; systematic reviews and summary of evidence according GRADE

Contact: Rosemarie Felder-Puig

Project Reports:

• LDL Apheresis
• Rheopheresis in patients with age-related macular degeneration, sudden hearing loss or tinnitus, diabetes
• Percutaneous aortic valve replacement
• New minimally invasive methods in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence
• Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation for right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction in patients with congenital heart defects
• Stent-grafting of the ascending aorta
• Optical Coherence Tomography
• Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
• Cardiac contractility modulation for heart failure
• Selective Cell Apheresis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease