Bookmark & ShareFor Immediate Release: 12/04/2009
The HCA Administrator, in consultation with participating state agencies, has selected the fourth group of health technologies that will undergo the scientific review process and then be presented to the Health Technology Clinical Committee (HTCC) for coverage determinations. After reviewing the recommended technologies and public comments, the following health technologies are selected for an evidence based review beginning in 2010.
Selected Technologies
- Vertebroplasty / Kyphoplasty / Sacroplasty
- Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Breast MRI
- Hyaluronic Acid
- MRI or CT for the Abdomen / Pelvis
- Routine Ultrasound for Pregnancy
- ABA Therapy for Autism
- Spinal Injections
- Knee Surgery - Replacement
Technologies not selected
Program constraints limit the technologies that can be selected. The prioritization process uses pre-established criteria to identify those technologies that are most appropriate for the health technology assessment process. Technologies that are not selected can be included for future consideration, generally reviewed annually, and remain a concern for agencies. Agencies may prioritize these technologies in applying other evidence based processes and strategies to reduce concerns.
Technologies eligible for re-review but not selected
Technologies with final coverage decisions are considered for re-review at least once every eighteen months. By law, technologies are selected for re-review only to assess new evidence that could change a previous determination. The technologies below are or could become eligible for re-review in 2010, but did not receive a recommendation or public comment indicating that there is significant new evidence that could lead to different conclusion.
| Health Technology Topic | Date Originally Completed | Re-Review Date |
|---|---|---|
| Upright MRI | 05/18/2007 | Not Selected |
| Pediatric Bariatric Surgery | 08/24/2007 | Not Selected |
| Lumbar Fusion | 11/16/2007 | Not Selected |
| Discography | 02/15/2008 | Not Selected |
| Virtual Colonoscopy | 02/15/2008 | Not Selected |
| Implantable Infusion Pumps | 08/15/2008 | Not Selected |
| Arthroscopic Knee Surgery | 08/15/2008 | Not Selected |
| Artificial Discs | 10/17/2008 | Not Selected |
| Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) | 11/14/2008 | Not Selected |
How Technologies are selected for Review
The time and resources required for the assessments limit the number of health technologies selected for a systematic review. The medical devices, procedures, and diagnostic tests are selected based on concerns about whether the technology is safe, whether it works as intended, and whether it is cost-effective, especially when compared to alternatives or where there is a variation in how it is used. State agencies and any interested parties identify potential health technologies of concern. These topics are prioritized with a tool that is based on legislative requirements and criteria widely used in technology assessment priority settings.
Next Step
Public Comment. A thirty (30) day period to gather public comment on selected topics is next. This public comment period is used primarily to gather information and evidence from stakeholders for our independent evidence reviewer to evaluate. Organizations, researchers, physicians, product manufacturers, professional societies and other members of the health care community have important insights that can assist us. The health care community may have evidence relating to actual practice that is informative. Public comments that provide information, preferably published clinical evidence, relating to a health technology’s safety, efficacy, effectiveness, or cost-effectiveness are most helpful. Public comments that give information on unpublished evidence such as the results of individual practitioners or patients are less rigorous and therefore less useful in the evidence based analysis.
