An economic formula that counts sick people as fractions could ration health care and penalize cancer patients. But going through cancer has made my life seem more valuable, not less.
An organization named ICER — the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review — is making big waves in health care circles. It calls itself “a trusted non-profit” despite suggestions that it takes significant funding from the health insurance industry. ICER has just released a draft report about treatment for a rare and difficult-to-treat cancer called Multiple Myeloma. In a few months, it will publish a similar assessment for Lung Cancer. Medicare is already considering the use of ICER’s approaches in official policy.
About the Author: Jennifer Hinkel, MSc is a cancer survivor, a health economist, a Partner at McGivney Global Advisors, and the Founder of Resilience Racing, the cancer survivor sailing team.