title: [Closing evidence gaps].
abstract: The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) is the paramount decision-making panel of the self-government body of service providers and health insurance funds. The G-BA commissions the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) to conduct benefit assessments as one of the Institute's main tasks. Both organisations are regularly faced with "evidence gaps." These are situations where, on the one hand, a new medical technology is being propagated and pushed into the health care system, and on the other hand, no sufficiently reliable proof of benefit exists based on the methods of evidence-based medicine. It is possible to encourage closure of such evidence gaps by making "negative decisions" (meaning, for example, rejection of coverage for a certain intervention) but also by "conditional coverage decisions," whereby fluent transition is conceivable. Innovative ideas, such as a multilaterally financed research funds, are called for to sponsor clinical trials in those areas which are of little commercial interest.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Gesundheitswesen. stefan.lange@iqwig.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research / Q000379:methods*; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018795:Device Approval; D017277:Drug Approval / Q000379:methods*; D004345:Drug Industry; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D009313:National Health Programs; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012109:Research Support as Topic