Belgian rare diseases plan in clinical pathology: identification of key biochemical diagnostic tests and establishment of reference laboratories and financing conditions

Abstract Background One objective of the Belgian Rare Diseases plan is to improve patients’ management using phenotypic tests and, more specifically, the access to those tests by identifying the biochemical analyses used for rare diseases, developing new financing conditions and establishing reference laboratories. Methods A feasibility study was performed from May 2015 until August 2016 in order to select the financeable biochemical analyses, and, among them, those that should be performed by reference laboratories. This selection was based on an inventory of analyses used for rare diseases a... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Nathalie M. Vandevelde
Pieter Vermeersch
Katrien M. J. Devreese
Marie-Françoise Vincent
Béatrice Gulbis
François Eyskens
François Boemer
André Gothot
Viviane O. Van Hoof
Carolien Bonroy
Hedwig Stepman
Geert A. Martens
Xavier Bossuyt
Laurence Roosens
Julie Smet
Hilde Laeremans
Ilse Weets
Jean-Marc Minon
Kris Vernelen
Wim Coucke
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2021
Reihe/Periodikum: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, Vol 16, Iss 1, Pp 1-16 (2021)
Verlag/Hrsg.: BMC
Schlagwörter: Rare diseases / Clinical pathology / Financing / Reference laboratories / Reimbursement codes / Expertise / Medicine / R
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28885755
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-021-01728-1

Abstract Background One objective of the Belgian Rare Diseases plan is to improve patients’ management using phenotypic tests and, more specifically, the access to those tests by identifying the biochemical analyses used for rare diseases, developing new financing conditions and establishing reference laboratories. Methods A feasibility study was performed from May 2015 until August 2016 in order to select the financeable biochemical analyses, and, among them, those that should be performed by reference laboratories. This selection was based on an inventory of analyses used for rare diseases and a survey addressed to the Belgian laboratories of clinical pathology (investigating the annual analytical costs, volumes, turnaround times and the tests unavailable in Belgium and outsourced abroad). A proposal of financeable analyses, financing modalities, reference laboratories’ scope and budget estimation was developed and submitted to the Belgian healthcare authorities. After its approval in December 2016, the implementation phase took place from January 2017 until December 2019. Results In 2019, new reimbursement conditions have been published for 46 analyses and eighteen reference laboratories have been recognized. Collaborations have also been developed with 5 foreign laboratories in order to organize the outsourcing and financing of 9 analyses unavailable in Belgium. Conclusions In the context of clinical pathology and rare diseases, this initiative enabled to identify unreimbursed analyses and to meet the most crucial financial needs. It also contributed to improve patients’ management by establishing Belgian reference laboratories and foreign referral laboratories for highly-specific analyses and a permanent surveillance, quality and financing framework for those tests.