Health policy
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Against the background of a financial crisis and supposed inefficiencies due to inappropriate use or the use of ineffective technologies in the German health care system, increasing awareness of the role of coverage decisions and the use of health technologies has stimulated interest in the regulation of health technologies. A systematic analysis of the decision processes at the levels of licensing/market admission, coverage by statutory health insurance and steering of diffusion and usage reveals considerable inconsistencies in different health care sectors. ⋯ This applies also to diffusion and usage of technologies. However, steering of usage of health related technologies is generally weak in Germany since only non-binding guidelines are in place.