The Use of Registers in Compensation Decisions in Accident Insurance

Registries have an important function in the health care system. Among other things, they are intended to provide data on the epidemiology of diseases or the quality of medical procedures and therapies. Moreover, registries can be used to generate real-world data that allow for reimbursement decisions. In Switzerland, the keeping of a register is sometimes required by the regulator in cases in which the effectiveness, appropriateness or cost-effectiveness (“WZW” criteria) of a therapy or drug is (are) questionable. However, many registers on benefits in the area of the Accident Insurance Act (UVG) cannot fulfil these expectations today.

The financial resources invested are often wasted because too little or the wrong data are generated to be able to make statements about the above criteria. Evidence-based (remuneration) decisions on the basis of registers are often impossible because the data collected are not systematically and scientifically evaluated. This Policy Brief discusses options to improve the usefulness of registries in the context of health care services covered by the accident insurance.

These include:

i) the involvement of all stakeholders in the design of the register,
ii) contractual agreements between service providers and payers,
iii) the improved monitoring of the data quality in the register and
iiii) enforcing the register participation as a precondition for payment.

Stakeholder(s): Representatives from accident insurers, the regulating authorities, industry and research.

SLHS Lead: Winterthur Institute of Health Economics

Author: Michael Stucki, Simon Wieser

Policy Brief: Download PDF

Key Messages: German, English, French, Italian

Summary of Stakeholder Dialogue: Download PDF