New data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) suggests U.S. health spending posted a 4.6 percent increase ($3.6 trillion) in 2018, HealthLeaders Media reports. The number of uninsured Americans, however, rose by 1 million. "Healthcare spending growth picked up […]
2018 Sees Dip in Prescription Drug Prices
The U.S. saw a 1 percent dip in prescription drug prices in 2018, the Associated Press reports. According to the report, the decrease was for retail pharmacy prescriptions. The last drop in prices for such drugs was a 0.2 percent dip in 1973. To read the full report on AP, click here. […]
The EUnetHTA, the European Union’s health technology assessment network, says there are noticeable benefits when including patient input, The Pink Sheet reports.
The EUnetHTA, the European Union's health technology assessment network, says there are noticeable benefits when including patient input, The Pink Sheet reports. To read the full report on The Pink Sheet, click here. […]
Duke University’s Ubel Urges Legislation on Health Care Prices
Peter Ubel, a physician and behavioral scientist at Duke University, in a recent article published in Los Angeles Times says that while his wife's life is priceless, the drugs keeping her cancer at bay are too expensive. "Congress or private insurers should pursue legislation that requires […]
Putting the Patient Ahead of Ratings
Should a physician put their personal grades first, or focus more on the goals of their patients? Physician Jeffrey Millstein writes in a recent article published in The Philadelphia Inquirer that when he started focusing more on a particular patient's personal goals, the patient was more […]
ISPOR Issues Call for Abstracts for Asia Meeting
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) announced it is accepting research abstracts as it prepares for its ISPOR Asia Pacific 2020 meeting in South Korea. According to an email, ISPOR is seeking research abstracts, issue panel proposals and workshop […]
Drugmakers Invest $2 Billion in Gene Therapy
Eleven drugmakers have allocated a combined $2 billion for gene therapy manufacturing since 2018, Reuters reports. Pfizer and Novartis, according to the report, are leading the charge with $600 million and $500 million investments respectively. "There's so little capacity and capability at […]
Report: Concerns Mount Over England’s Push for Lower Prices
A new framework from the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) has sparked some concerns as the agency continues its push to lower prescription drug prices, the Pink Sheet reports. "It's now clearly in the public domain, for those who didn't know, that NHS England wants to get companies to price […]
AMCP Forum Spotlights Digital Therapeutics
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's (AMCP) recent Partnership Forum shifted the spotlight to digital therapeutics and their role in pharmacy and medical benefits. AMCP CEO Susan Cantrell in a blog post offers an overview of the key takeaways from the event. "After attending the forum, I'm […]
AMCP Offers Program on Value-Based Contracting
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is offering a learning program on value-based contracting. The program includes seven modules. "The program includes an overview of today's key trends and challenges and provides insights and solutions," a description of the program […]
Article: ICER’s Changes Based on Industry Feedback ‘Modest’
While the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) consistently asks for input on its reports, the changes between draft and revised evidence reports are "generally modest," a recent article published in Value in Health suggests. The authors reviewed 15 reports by ICER between 2017 and […]
Using AI to Improve EHR Use
Vendors of electronic health records (EHRs) are incorporating artificial intelligence algorithms to bolster their products which otherwise face a range of issues, according to an EHRIntelligence report. AI can help tackle a number of problems, per the report, including improvements in […]
Three Key Issues on RWE
A recent article published on DOTmed highlights three key hurdles involving the use of real-world evidence (RWE). According to the article, the three issues are: Complex data structures; Introducing results from machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms into real-world […]
Report: Uncertainty Abound on Health Policy
In the midst of a tumultuous Washington, health care policy is likely to take a back seat during the 2020 election season, according to a MM&M report. Impeachment hearings are likely to retain the spotlight going into the election, per the report. "It's clearly going to suck the oxygen out […]
CMS Chief Criticizes High Launch Prices
During the recent Milken Institute's Future of Health Summit, Seema Verma, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, was critical of high prescription drug launch prices, Policy & Medicine reports. "Now we have a half a million-dollar drug and $1 million drug and the question […]
NPC: ICER ‘Abritrarily Capping Treatment Prices’ for SSTs
The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) has expressed concerns over the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review's (ICER) adaptations to its value assessment framework regarding single or short-term transformative therapies (SSTs). ICER is set to incorporate the updates next year. " ... […]
IQVIA’s Nasuti: Real-World Database Studies are ‘a Long Journey’
IQVIA Real World Solutions UK Associate Principal Paola Nasuti in a recent interview with the Pink Sheet discussed real-world database studies, saying that a variety of data are being used in "more novel ways." "Real-world databases are a long journey," she tells the Pink Sheet. To read the […]
Report: Payers Hesitant on RWE in Rare Diseases
Syneos Health in a new report suggests payers are more reluctant to use real-world evidence (RWE) in reimbursement and formulary decisions despite rising interest among other organizations. "Our research reveals that payers are positively disposed to use RWE, but knowledge gaps around the […]
Legislators Plan Follow-Up Legislation to 21st Century Cures Act
Reps. Diana DeGette, a Democrat, and Fred Upton, a Republican, are working together to create new legislation that would expand on the 21st Century Cures Act, according to a Regulatory Focus report. The legislators put out a call for input on how to address a number of issues and challenges for […]
ICER Releases Report on JAK Inhibitors in Treatment of RA
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) in a new report suggests a roughly 25 percent discount on AbbVie's upadacitinib, which costs $59,860 per year. ICER reviewed the following drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis: AbbVie's upadacitinib (Rinvoq); Pfizer's tofacitinib […]
Developing a Real-World Study Protocol
Study protocols developed for real-world studies introduce added complexity and must be "developed in such a way as not to alter real-world routine clinical care patterns," a recent white paper by Evidera states. "The protocol, derived from the sponsor’s strategic needs, must guide and enable the […]
Article Spotlights Orphan Drugs
A recent article published in the European Journal of Health Economics spotlights the organ drug industry, including some implications of such high-cost drugs. Despite the high cost of the drugs, the article states, society remains willing to continue funding for rare conditions. "It has been […]
Article Highlights HTA Landscape for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
A recent article by Xcenda highlights how advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) fit in with the current health technology assessment (HTA) landscape, as well as emerging frameworks. According to the article, a number of ATMPs have been given marketing authorization from the European […]
Evolving Health Economy Puts More Emphasis on Strategy Leaders
Hospitals and health systems are putting increased emphasis on strategy leaders as they look to navigate an increasingly complex health economy. Deloitte's Josh Lee recently met with Providence St. Joseph Health Executive Vice President and CSO Carladenise Edwards to discuss the evolving role of […]
ISPOR Seeks Input From Members on Responses to Calls for Comments
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) is calling on its members to submit their feedback on recent calls for comment. According to an email, ISPOR is responding to two calls for comments: FDA's Patient-Focused Drug Development guidance document (Dec. 9 […]
Doctors Slam Price of Heart Drug They Helped Develop
Bloomberg recently spoke with several doctors involved in the development of Pfizer's new heart drug, tafamidis, who voiced their opposition to the drug's $225,000 annual price tag, or $651 a day. One of those doctors, Columbia University Irving Medical Center's Mathew Maurer, during a September […]
Analysis: Pelosi Plan Could Result in Fewer Drugs
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's drug pricing plan, H.R.3, could result in 56 fewer drugs over 10 years, a new analysis by economic consulting firm Vital Transformation suggests. According to a PhRMA blog post citing the analysis, the bill would lead to a major cut in revenue for drugmakers with […]
CMS Announces 2 New Rules to Boost Price Transparency, Cut Health Costs
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced two new rules aimed at increasing price transparency and slashing health costs across the board for Americans. According to a press release, the rules are part of President Donald Trump's executive order, "Improving Price and Quality […]
Sanofi, Aetion Partner to Bolster Use of RWE
Sanofi on Wednesday, Nov. 20, announced a new collaboration with Aetion aimed at bolstering and streamlining the use of real-world evidence. According to a press release, Sanofi will integrate its real-world data platform, DARWIN with the Aetion Evidence Platform. "Today marks another […]
White Paper Considers RWE in Medical Devices
A recent white paper by Evidera looks at what role real-world evidence (RWE) could play toward innovation in the medical device landscape. "Innovation of medical devices is often an iterative development process based on recognized need rather than transformational improvement to address a […]
