Examining the Impact of the Current Reimbursement Regulation on Patient Access to Innovative Medical Devices in Taiwan: Insights From 8 Years' Reimbursement Data.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of the reimbursement regulation of medical devices (Regulation), introduced by the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) in 2013, on patients' access to innovative medical devices in Taiwan.

Methods: Analysis of the amount of time needed from application for NHIA reimbursement for new medical devices to receiving the decision from NHIA was done using the nonreimbursement product list featured on the NHIA website. Additionally, Welch analysis of variance was used to compare the amount of time it took from application to NHIA with reimbursement decisions made by the NHIA for different nonreimbursement code categories.

Myth and Truth in Opioid Consumption with Intrathecal Morphine Pump Implantation in Chronic Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study with Claims Database in South Korea.

Objective: To investigate the opioid consumption and the healthcare resource utilization in patients with the intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) therapy and the comprehensive medical management (CMM) alone.

Design: A retrospective cohort study with a customized claims database.

Setting: In a university-based hospital.

Association of mortality with drug-coated devices in femoropopliteal artery based on the nationwide data.

Purpose: Drug-coated devices have been widely accepted as one of the most promising therapies for femoropopliteal artery revascularization. A recent meta-analysis showed increased mortality in patients treated with drug-coated devices. We sought to examine the association between mortality and drug-coated devices after the treatment of the femoropopliteal artery based on the Korea national administrative claims data.