A recent report from the Research Consortium for Health Care Value Assessment found that annual spending on five low-value services under private plans hit $3 billion in 2015, the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) reports. "Our findings suggest that even though there has been significant […]
Can Germany’s Model for Prescription Drugs Work in the U.S.?
An international survey by The Commonwealth Fund found that only 7 percent of Germans reported issues concerning health care costs since 2018, according to a Los Angeles Times report, whereas one-third of Americans reported cost-related woes. "There is a lot we could learn," AARP's Leigh Purvis […]
McKinsey Details ‘Bold’ Vision for Medical Affairs
Organizations looking to bolster their medical affairs arm must "embrace the power of technology," McKinsey writes in a new report outlining its vision for the medical-affairs function in 2025. " ... McKinsey has been working closely with industry executives to create a bold vision for the […]
The Price of Innovation: The Role of Drug Pricing in Financing Pharmaceutical Innovation
The debate on drug prices has reached new heights with the controversy around the role of prices in promoting innovation. Critics claim that prices of innovative drugs are excessive and argue that lowering prices will not harm the flourishing innovation. On the opposite end, the pharmaceutical […]
States Eye Massachusetts’ Plan to Wrangle Drug Costs
States are keeping a close eye on Massachusetts as it attempts to wrangle prescription drug spending in its MassHealth program, The Meadville Tribune reports. According to the report, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker proposed giving power to health officials to post a drug's value if it's found to […]
Optum E-Book Delves into ‘Nontraditional’ Health Data
A new e-book from Optum, titled "Harnessing the Power of Nontraditional Data in Health Care," takes a deep dive into a host of nontraditional data sources which can provide "richer insights." "Nontraditional data sources — such as social determinants of health and internet-connected devices — […]
Xcenda Marks 25th Anniversary with Launch of New Solutions
Consulting firm Xcenda on Tuesday, June 18, announced the launch of new solutions aimed at bolstering pharmaceutical companies' ability to make their product stand out and reach more patients. Xcenda launched the following solutions as it marked its 25th anniversary: MetaMap Pro; Interactive […]
AMCP Seeks Candidates for President-Elect, Board Directors
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is seeking applicants as it searches for a president-elect and three directors to fill its board of directors. According to AMCP, the president-elect will serve a one year-term as president-elect, one year as president and one year as the immediate past […]
Bach Takes Aim at Zolgensma Pricing
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Physician Dr. Peter Bach recently took aim at Novartis' pricing of its breakthrough gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Zolgensma, in a recent Health Affairs blog post. Novartis "deviated from essential standards of health economic evaluations" […]
Value in Health Supplement Spotlights Summit Presentations
Value in Health on Tuesday, June 18, announced a new supplement focused on six presentations from the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research's (ISPOR) Oct. 19, 2018, summit in Washington. The supplement, according to a press release, "extends the reach and expands access […]
AMCP Issues Call for Speakers for Nexus 2019
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) has issued a call for speakers as it prepares for its upcoming Nexus 2019 meeting set for Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Maryland. The deadline for proposal submissions is 5 p.m. EST Wednesday, July 10. Speakers will be featured in an "education opportunity" titled […]
Coalition Seeks ‘Common-Sense Reforms’ for Surprise Medical Bills
A newly-formed coalition led by America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is throwing its weight behind "common-sense reforms" that address surprise medical bills, FierceHealthcare reports. Rate setting and safety nets for care received out of network, the […]
Drugmakers Suing Trump White House Over Ad Mandate
Drugmakers Amgen, Merck and Eli Lilly are suing the Trump administration over its recent rule requiring pharmaceutical companies to include a drug's list price in television ads, STAT reports. The Association of National Advertisers is also involved in the lawsuit, according to the report. Amgen […]
2019 MEED Research Forum Opens Abstract Submissions
The 2019 Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Diagnostics (MEED) Research Forum is now accepting abstract submissions presenting economic studies of diagnostics. According to an email, abstract proposals must be sent to MEED@manchester.ac.uk by July 22. The 2019 MEED Research Forum is slated for […]
Scientist.Com Honors 19 Women to Mark 100th Anniversary of 19th Amendment
To mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, Scientist.Com honored 19 women, including HealthEconomics.Com CEO and Founder Dr. Patti Peeples. Other women honored included: Neelam Vaidya, scientist; Nina Tandon, scientist; Rachel Carson, marine biologist; and Florence Nightingale, […]
TriNetX Backs Spending Bill that Includes Support for RWE
TriNetX recently expressed support for the House Appropriations Committee's recent spending bill for FY2020 which includes language supporting real-world evidence in regulatory decision making. "We applaud the committee and Representative Katerine Clark for including language that urges the FDA to […]
New IQVIA Report Offers Deep Dive into Emerging Biopharma Companies
IQVIA's latest report, "Emerging Biopharma's Contribution to Innovation," takes a deep dive into the world of emerging biopharma (EBP) companies, and how they "play a critical role in determining the future of many novel therapies and health technologies." According to the report, EBPs account for […]
Podcast Highlights Potential Implications of HHS Rebate Proposal
A recent Relentless Health Value podcast shifts the spotlight on what Health and Human Services' (HHS) rebate proposal could mean for pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers. The podcast features Capital Rx CEO Anthony Loiacono. "Since any middleman who gets himself involved in any […]
ISPOR Latin America 2019 Nears
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research's (ISPOR) Latin America 2019 meeting is set to kick off September 12 in Bogotá, Colombia, and will take up the theme "Data and Value in Healthcare: 2020 and Beyond." Bringing in more than 1,000 stakeholders from the global health […]
Article Proposes ‘Checklist’ for Economic Evaluations of Gene Therapies
A recent article published in Value in Health proposes a "tailored checklist" for analysts and decision makers when conducting economic evaluations of gene therapies. "The aim of this article was to provide a more detailed analysis of the characteristics of gene therapy and the extent to which […]
NPC Submits Feedback on ICER’s Request for Input
The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) submitted feedback to the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review's (ICER) request for comment as it looks to update its value assessment framework. NPC in its comments proposed a "collaborative and transparent model development process." "NPC also […]
Health Affairs Blog Post Touts Reference Pricing
A recent Health Affairs blog post suggests reference pricing could not only promote provider competition, but also encourage patients to shop for health care services. Most consumers, according to the post, opt out of price shopping despite the potential cost savings. Reference pricing, the authors […]
Are Major Premium Hikes a Thing of the Past?
Significant spikes in premiums could be a thing of the past if early exchange rates are any indicator, FierceHealthcare reports. According to the report, 13 payers expected to participate in the Affordable Care Act markets in Washington have filed for a 1 percent increase. "This year's filings are […]
Report: Rising Deductibles, Drug Prices Hamstring Americans
Rising drug prices and health insurance deductibles have many Americans scrambling just to afford the medication they need, let alone any additional health care services, according to an LA Times report. University of Michigan Neurologist Dr. Brian Callaghan tells the Times it's a "double […]
Article Spotlights ICER, Drug Prices
A recent article by Laura Happe, Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy editor-in-chief, spotlights how the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has become an increasingly influential entity in the drug pricing landscape. "Amidst increasing public scrutiny on the high cost of […]
Legislators Look to Collaborate with Pharma to Combat High Drug Prices
Eight Republican senators in a letter to PhRMA have asked for "cooperation" from pharmaceutical companies as they work toward solutions to high drug prices, The Hill reports. "We write today to ask, as the trade association representing the pharmaceutical industry, what solutions does your […]
ICER Plans Review of Acute Migraine Treatments
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) on Friday, June 7, announced plans to assess the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of acute migraine treatments. According to a press release, the organization will review Biohaven's rimegepant, Allergan's ubrogepant and Eli Lilly's […]
New York Dismisses Criticism Over Erectile Dysfunction Report
The New York Department of Health has denounced recent criticisms over a report that the state's Medicaid program paid more than $60,000 for sexual and erectile dysfunction drugs for 47 sex offenders, the Democrat & Chronicle reports. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli in a statement said "there are […]
NPC, AcademyHealth Plan Webinar on Health Spending
The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) and AcademyHealth are slated to host a June 18 webinar focused on health care spending, and how stakeholders can collaborate despite widespread disagreement on how much the U.S. spends on prescription drugs. The webinar, "What's in a Number? It Matters in […]
Doctor Evidence Unleashes AI to Distinguish RWE-Based Studies
Global consulting company Doctor Evidence has reportedly trained artificial intelligence (AI) to identify studies based off real-world evidence (RWE), according to an AiThority report. The consultancy was on hand at AcademyHealth's annual meeting in Washington to offer a glimpse into the new […]
