Implications of living evidence formats for coverage decisions in the German health care system.

Decision-makers consult systematic reviews and clinical guidelines to make informed coverage decisions based on the current state of evidence. Outdated recommendations in rapidly evolving areas such as lung cancer treatment, are challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for good decision-making under uncertainty.

Evidence-based health policy in Germany: lack of communication and coordination between academia and health authorities?

Health-care decision making should consider the best available evidence, often in the form of systematic reviews (SRs). The number of existing SRs and their overlap make their identification and use difficult. Decision makers often rely on de novo SRs instead of using existing SRs.

[How robust are studies of currently permanently included digital health applications (DiGA)? Methodological quality of studies demonstrating positive health care effects of DiGA].

Introduction: Since September 2020 digital health applications (DiGA) can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and are reimbursed within the German Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) system for the first time worldwide. For full reimbursement, the manufacturers have to provide evidence based on scientific studies that the DiGA can provide 'positive health care effects'. This study aims to analyze and evaluate the methodological quality of efficacy studies of DiGA in the categories 'Nervensystem' and 'Psyche' of the DiGA register that are permanently accepted.