Healthcare Improvement Scotland, SHTG team, 4 September 2019
- An estimate of the potential budget impact of changing the eligibility criteria for cochlear implants in Scotland. This follows a change to NICE guidance in England, which includes modifications to the clinical criteria for what constitutes severe or profoundly deaf, and how ‘adequate benefit’ from hearing aids is measured.
- Key findings
- Cochlear implants are deemed to be clinically and cost effective based on pre-existing NICE technology appraisal guidance (TA566).
- Changes to the assessment of eligibility for cochlear implants is expected to increase the number of people eligible to receive a cochlear implant in Scotland.
