Experiences with coverage with evidence development (CED) schemes are fairly limited
in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, which are usually late adopters of
new health technologies. Our aim was to put forward recommendations on how CEE health
technology assessment bodies and payer organizations can apply CED to reduce decision
uncertainty on reimbursement of medical devices, with a particular focus on transferring
the structure and data from CED schemes in early technology adopter countries in Western
Europe. Structured interviews on the practices and feasibility of transferring CED
schemes were conducted and subsequently, a draft tool for the systematic classification
of decision alternatives and recommendations was developed. The decision tool was
reviewed in a focus group discussion and validated within a wider group of CEE experts
in a virtual workshop. Transferability assessment is needed in case of (1) joint implementation
of a CED scheme; (2) transferring the structure of an existing CED scheme to a CEE
country; (3) reimbursement decisions that are linked to outcomes of an ongoing CED
scheme in another country and (4) real-world evidence transferred from completed CED
schemes. Efficient use of available resources may be improved by adequately transferring
evidence and policy tools from early technology adopter countries.
