Decision complete

Overview

The HTCC decides whether state agencies should pay for or cover a technology; not cover a technology; or cover under certain conditions. The decision is complete when the committee formally adopts a findings and decision document describing the coverage decision, any conditions that must be met and the reasoning for the decision.

Participating agencies then implement decisions according to their statutory, regulatory, or contractual process

Note on topic rereview: A health technology for which the committee has already made a coverage determination is considered for rereview at least once every 18 months. In addition, any group or individual may petition the program the program to consider a health technology for rereview. Whether the technology receives a rereview is determined by the HCA director, based on whether new evidence is available that could change a previous decision. Rereviewed technologies follow the same steps, from selection to decision, as technologies being reviewed for the first time.

Process

Upon a majority vote about coverage:

  1. The HTCC directs HTA staff to prepare a draft findings and decision document and public meeting minutes that capture the committee discussion and decision.
  2. Draft findings and decision documents are posted for public comment.
  3. The HTA forwards timely public comment to the HTCC prior to the next public meeting.
  4. A final vote to adopt the document is taken at the next public meeting.
Information on public comments

Organizations may wish to impart their groups' positions and beneficiaries may wish to share their perspectives. Researchers, physicians, product manufacturers, professional societies and other members of the health care community have important insights that can assist us in the health technology assessment process.

Public comments that provide information, preferably published clinical evidence, relating to a health technology’s safety, efficacy, effectiveness, or cost‐effectiveness are most helpful. Often, the health care community may have evidence relating to actual practice that is informative. Public comments that give information on unpublished evidence such as the results of individual practitioners or patients are less rigorous and therefore less useful for making evidence based coverage determinations. Public comments that are part of letter writing campaigns by groups or individuals who espouse a single point of view through identical or nearly identically worded emails or documents are not useful in this evidence based process.

HTA does not need, and is not requesting, individually identifiable/personal health information to inform its technology review. HTA is requesting information about a technology’s safety, efficacy, effectiveness, or cost‐effectiveness only for the purpose of its technology review and coverage decision processes. The HTA often reviews new technologies, or technologies being used in new ways, and recognizes that there may be regulatory or other restrictions on some organization’s ability to provide information. HTA assures organizations that the information it is requesting is not considered by HTA to be a request for promotion of a product, and will not be used by HTA for promoting products or use of products, or for communicating or instructing patients or health care providers about the appropriateness of technologies in any individual situation.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the HTA program.