Making ICER nicer
Why ICER policy changes likely won't satisfy patients or drug companies
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review is nearing the end of a public consultation process that could lead to changes in the ways it assesses and communicates the value of drugs and other medical products - but probably not enough to satisfy patient advocates, drug manufacturers and provider groups.
ICER is an independent, non-profit health technology assessment organization that develops reports about the comparative effectiveness of medical interventions, including analyses of their short- and long-term costs to the healthcare system. The organization assesses clinical and pharmacoeconomic data to arrive at calculations of "value-based price benchmarks" for new drugs, which are intended to establish a cost-effectiveness threshold. It also considers the effects of new drug costs on the entire U.S. healthcare system...