A program launched in 2006 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) helped ensure the safety and effectiveness of older drugs, but there were unintended results, according to a STAT report. The Unapproved Drugs Initiative, according to the report, ultimately led to billions in drug price hikes […]
Parents Shocked by Price of Children’s Hormone Drug
The parents of an 8-year-old girl were shocked when they discovered the price for a children's hormone blocker cost about eight times more than the adult version, according to an NPR report. The Taksali's tell NPR their insurer wouldn't cover the cheaper version of the drug, Vantas, and their […]
Blog Post Highlights Tool for Tracking Low-Value Care Spending
A recent PhRMA blog post highlights a new web-based tool by the Research Consortium for Health Care Value Assessment that aims to provide insight into spending on low-value care services. The tool, the post states, is another move toward a "value-driven health care system." "Designed with […]
HIMSS, ISPOR Partner to Bolster Membership Value
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) have partnered in a bid to bolster value for each society's members. ISPOR and HIMSS, according to the announcement, are looking to collaborate on "benefits, […]
ICER Releases Final Report on Acute Treatments for Migraine
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) on Tuesday, Feb. 25, released its final report on three acute treatments for migraine. ICER reviewed Eli Lilly's Reyvow, Biohaven's rimegepant and Allergan's Ubrelvy. "For patients who are unable to take triptans or who don't get adequate […]
AHIP: MCO’s Generated $6.5 Billion in Medicaid Savings in 2018
A new report by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) suggests managed care organizations were able to save Medicaid programs roughly $6.5 billion on prescription drugs in 2018. According to a HealthPayerIntelligence report, AHIP partnered with The Menges Group to check the savings of managed […]
Veradigm Highlights Social Determinants of Health in New White Paper
Veradigm, a health information technology, analytics and intervention solutions company, in a new tHEORetically Speaking blog post highlights its new white paper on social determinants of health (SDOH). According to the post, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) forecasts national […]
MAPS Announces ‘Major’ Expansion of Board of Directors
The Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS) on Monday, Feb. 24, announced the first "major" expansion of its board of directors in response to the society's "tremendous growth." MAPS welcomed to the board Iris Loew-Friedrich, Ameet Nathwani, Danie du Plessis, Peter Piliero, and Ann […]
MSLS Announces First-Ever Board Certification for MSLs
The Medical Science Liason Society (MSLS) announced the launch of a new MSL Board Certification program for MSLs and MSL leaders. MSLS on its website says the program is "an effort to set industry-recognized standards for the MSL profession." Eligible individuals must meet the following […]
ICER Announces RWE Partnership with Aetion
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is partnering with Aetion to "generate decision-grade real-world evidence," the drug pricing watchdog announced Monday. According to a press release, Aetion's solutions would help ICER discover where it can use RWE to bolster its […]
PhRMA: HCCI Report ‘Overestimates Medicine Spending and Pricing’
The Health Care Cost Institute's (HCCI) recent report on health spending "overestimates medicine spending and pricing and mischaracterizes the true drivers of health care spending in the commercial market," PhRMA's Katie Koziara writes in a recent blog post. "The analysis significantly overstates […]
PBM Report Suggests Wider Use of Tools Can Lead to $1 Trillion in Savings
A new study by Visante, funded by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), suggests greater use of PBM tools could lead to some $1 trillion in savings on drug costs over the next decade, Fierce Healthcare reports. The study was published Wednesday last week. "As this analysis […]
Pearson: Program to Bolster Patient Involvement in Review Process
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review's (ICER) new Patient Engagement Program is a big leap forward for the drug pricing watchdog's efforts to include the patient perspective in each stage of its cost-effectiveness assessments, ICER Founder and President Steven Pearson writes in a blog post […]
Tufts’ Cohen Highlights ICER’s Third Value Assessment Framework
Tufts Medical Center's Joshua Cohen, deputy director of the Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, in a recent blog post spotlights the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review's (ICER) third value assessment framework. The latest framework, Cohen writes, opens the door for a […]
Analysis Looks at ICER’s FDA Outreach Plan
A recent analysis by the Pink Sheet spotlights a new initiative by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) which aims to bolster its patient-engagement efforts. One component of its new Patient Engagement Program includes performing outreach to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) […]
ICER Plans Review of Bladder Cancer Treatment
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) announced plans to review FKD Therapies Oy and Ferring Pharmaceuticals' Instiladrin for the treatment of bladder cancer. According to a press release, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to make a decision on the drug later this […]
Population Health with Accountable Health Founder
Fred Goldstein, president and founder of Accountable Health, chimes in on population health in the latest Relentless Health Value podcast. Goldstein offers six key steps toward successful population health. To listen to the podcast, click here. […]
ICER Releases Draft Report on Cystic Fibrosis Therapies
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) on Thursday, Feb. 20, released a draft evidence report on treatments for cystic fibrosis. The report assesses the effectiveness and value of Vertex's Trikafta, as well as considers new data on three other drugs from Vertex: Symdeko, Orkambi […]
Article Highlights Digital Healthcare Ecosystem
HEOR researcher and scientific writer Michele Cleary in the latest Value & Outcomes Spotlight featured article offers expert perspectives on the evolving digital healthcare landscape. The article includes input from Edwards Lifesciences' Katie Szyman, Microsoft and Foundation29's Julian Isla […]
More on Surescripts Report
A recent PatientEngagementHIT report highlights a survey by Surescripts that found high drug prices caused a little more than half of U.S. patients to avoid taking their medicines. The survey included input from 1,001 patients. "A patient's decision about whether or not to take a prescribed […]
Survey: More than Half of Patients Avoid Taking Medicine Due to Cost
A recent survey conducted by Surescripts, in partnership with Engine Group, suggests a little more than half of U.S. patients avoid taking medication due to high prices. The online survey included responses from 1,001 patients in the U.S. "This survey demonstrates that today's patients are […]
CMS Testing Waters with Risk-Sharing Deals with ACO Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is testing risk-sharing agreements in Medicare's Direct Contracting program, according to a Managed Care report. According to the report, the agency is accepting applications from potential "direct contracting entities" for the program until […]
Blog Post: Making the Most of Our Health Care Dollars
A recent blog post on Going Below the Surface highlights a panel discussion during AcademyHealth National Health Policy Conference that focused on more effective health care spending. The panel, which was moderated by National Pharmaceutical Council CSO Robert Dubois, featured: Stacie […]
Impact of Drug Pricing Controls on Innovation
The pharmaceutical industry, citing concerns over innovation, has consistently pushed back against the U.S. government's efforts to tame drug prices. But what impact would pricing controls actually have on innovation? According to a MedCity News article, the issue is a complicated one with a […]
3M Announces Webinar Series for Health Plans
3M this week announced a new webinar series developed specifically for health care plans. The first webinar in the series, "Incenting the shift to value-based care," is set to kick off 2 p.m. EST March 17. "The 3M payer webinar series offers in-depth sessions with 3M experts and clients about […]
ICER Signs Multi-Year Deal to Use New Cloud-Based Analytic Platform, hēRo3
Policy Analysis Inc. (PAI), a Boston-based health-economics consultancy, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, announced that it had signed a multi-year deal with the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) that will allow the drug-pricing watchdog to expand its use of PAI's new cloud-based economic […]
Article Reflects on NICE’s Achievements, Economic Evaluation Methods
University of York's Mark Sculpher and Stephen Palmer in a recent article published in PharmacoEconomics discuss the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's track record of achievements and the evolution of its economic evaluation methods. Sculpher and Palmer in their review go back […]
Wynne Health Group’s LaRosa Talks Drug Pricing Intiatives
Josh LaRosa, policy director at Wynne Health Group, in a new Relentless Health Value podcast highlights a number of drug pricing initiatives circulating in Washington. To listen to the 15-minute podcast, click here. […]
Express Scripts Releases Annual Drug Trend Report
Express Scripts in its annual Drug Trend Report suggests drugs targeting inflammatory conditions were responsible for almost half of the drug spending in commercial plans last year, Fierce Healthcare reports. In its report, the pharmacy benefit manager looks at cost and spending data for 33.6 […]
COTA White Paper Spotlights Perspectives on RWE
A new white paper from COTA offers unique perspectives on real-world evidence (RWE), including input from Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb executives. COTA says that while RWE shows some promise, there are a number barriers preventing widespread adoption. "In 2020, we expect many of these […]
