OBJECTIVES: The Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) will become mandatory in Europe next January. Previous research has aimed to evaluate the potential impact of widespread European adoption of the JCA as a new requirement for Health Technology Assessments. As the official implementation approaches, further research is required to understand the state of implementation and current/evolving stakeholder perceptions.

METHODS: This study presents the results of primary research from N=8 ex-payer stakeholders across Germany, France, Italy, and Spain to provide current perceptions of the JCA and potential future impact of widespread European adoption. We also utilize retrospective interview results to show how payers' perceptions/knowledge of JCA implementation evolved over the past year.

RESULTS: Retrospective research found that most payers have high confidence in the parameters and evaluation criteria within the JCA. However, countries were still planning to conduct their own supplemental clinical assessments, which creates redundancies. Italian and Spanish payers were working to implement a cost-effectiveness evaluation upon JCA implementation, but the level of integration remains unclear. German payers reported seamless integration of the JCA into their current system given alignment of local priorities with the JCA parameters, whereas French payers experienced some adoption inertia as they were still thinking through how best to integrate the JCA into their own evaluation processes.

Despite the confidence in the parameters and evaluation criteria within the JCA, many hurdles and uncertainties regarding implementation remain. This study will provide updated insights into the implementation and impact of the JCA plus fill any gaps from last year’s research.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this research suggests that while the JCA has been well-received by payers across Europe, there is still work to be done to ensure efficient implementation. The study highlights the need for continued research into the state of implementation and evolution of stakeholder perceptions of the JCA.