CER Daily Newsfeed

Value Viewpoint: September 13, 2024

(9/13, Kimberly Westrich, LinkedIn) comments “A new editorial published this week in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research (JCER) explores the intricacies of the market for innovative pharmaceuticals and seeks to dispel some persistent misunderstandings of how the market works. Francisco Olivença, Jose Diaz, Sreeram Ramagopalan, and Lou Garrison Jr make three important points about this market: 1. There are unique market design characteristics that encourage pharmaceutical innovation...2. There are persistent misunderstandings about the intricacies of the market for innovative pharmaceuticals...3. HEOR professionals have a critical role in communicating about the market.” Full

Laser, Radiofrequency Therapies Offer Little Benefit for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause

(9/16, Tara Haelle, Medscape) reports “Use of CO2 lasers and similar "energy-based" treatments result in little to no benefit for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) symptoms, according to research presented at the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) 2024 Annual Meeting...Results showed that CO2 lasers led to little or no difference in dysuria, dyspareunia, or quality of life when compared with sham lasers. The CO2 laser therapy also showed little to no difference compared with vaginal estrogen creams for dyspareunia, dryness, discomfort/irritation, dysuria, or quality of life.” Full

Strengthening Primary Care Reimbursement Models To Improve Medicare’s Outcomes And Efficiency

(9/16, Ann Greiner, R. Shawn Martin and Kate Goodrich, Health Affairs Forefront) comments “...Incenting more primary care-led accountable care organizations in Medicare is justified by recent data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This CBO analysis synthesizes and builds on previous research on ACO performance within MSSP that shows that ACOs with more primary care clinicians and more primary care patient encounters perform better at lower cost to Medicare.” Full

Center for Innovation & Value Research Releases Final Report on Integrating Equity into Health Technology Assessment

(9/16, Katie McCool, The Evidence Base) reports “...The report emphasizes that an equity-centered approach is crucial for HTA to fulfill its potential in value-based care. Recent policy changes, such as the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program in the US and EU Regulation on Health Technology Assessment (EU HTAR), offer new opportunities for HTA to contribute to value-based care...[T]he Center notes their Health Equity program aims to transform HTA into a tool that promotes both value-based care and health equity across all patient populations through transparency, inclusivity, and clear communication.” Full

Incremental Effectiveness, Costs May Improve Using Biomarker-Guided Selection

(9/15, Julia Bonavitacola, The American Journal of Managed Care) reports “Choosing the patients who should be treated with first-line nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, by using a selection guided by biomarkers could help to reduce costs and improve efficacy of the treatment in patients with microsatellite stable (MSS)/proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), according to an abstract presented at European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2024 by Benjamin Geisler, MD, MPH.” Full

National Health Council to Launch Updated Value Classroom in October

(9/13, Silke Schoch, National Health Council Blog) comments “...In 2016, the National Health Council (NHC) launched its Value Classroom, which consists of eight documents, glossaries, and infographics intended to educate patient organizations about important topics in patient-centered value assessment. These include a Patient-Centered Value Model Rubric, Health Economics 101 modules, and a Value Framework Get-Ready Checklist. As the value assessment environment has shifted, especially with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (2022), the NHC has set out to update our value tools and offer new trainings, infographics, and webinars. These new materials will be launched on our website in October 2024.” Full

Saudi Arabia To Mandate Economic Evaluation Studies For New Drugs From July 2025

(9/16, Vibha Sharma, Pink Sheet) reports “...Companies marketing pharmaceutical products in Saudi Arabia are being urged to prepare for upcoming mandatory pharmacoeconomic assessments to demonstrate the added value of their drugs over existing treatments.” Subscription Required