Giving Patients a Window into Healthcare Costs
For years, policymakers across the political spectrum have sought to make the U.S. healthcare system more transparent. Unfortunately, the status quo too often incentivizes policies and practices that seem designed to keep patients in the dark about the real cost of...
Eyes on DC: How the Build Back Better Act could end up harming Medicare patients
As we near the end of a tumultuous year in politics, the fate of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA), a massive social spending bill and a centerpiece of President Biden’s domestic policy agenda, is still up in the air. Among the vast sea of policies included in the BBBA...
ICER’s Latest: A draft evidence report on new treatment for type 2 diabetes
On November 9, 2021, ICER released its draft evidence report, “Tirzepatide for Type 2 Diabetes.” This is the first step in ICER’s process that is expected to conclude with the release of a final report in February 2022. Diabetes is a chronic condition in which a...
Statement for the Record to the Senate Finance Committee Health Insurance Coverage in America: Current and Future Role of Federal Programs October 20, 2021
During the October 20, 2021, Senate Finance Hearing, Health Insurance Coverage in America: Current and Future Role of Federal Programs, the areas where each party agrees to disagree are stark, but the places where change for patients is possible exists. It is our aim...
LAST WORD: Treatments for Hereditary Angioedema
On August 24, 2021, ICER released a revised version of a final evidence report from 2018 evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of three emerging treatments for hereditary angioedema. Unfortunately, while ICER tried to update its analysis -- supposedly to...
ICER’s Latest: A draft evidence report on new treatment for severe asthma
On August 18, 2021, ICER released its draft evidence report, “Tezepelumab for Severe Asthma: Effectiveness and Value.” This is the first step in ICER’s standard process that – after a period of public comment – will result in the release of final evidence report,...
ICER’s Latest: A draft evidence report on new treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
On August 18, 2021, ICER released its draft evidence report, “Mavacamten for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Effectiveness and Value.” This is the first step in ICER’s process that, if the announced schedule holds, will lead to the release of final evidence report in...
LAST WORD: Treatments for Atopic Dermatitis
On August 17, 2021, ICER issued a Final Evidence Report on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of new treatments for atopic dermatitis (more commonly referred to as eczema). After following its typical process for gathering and reviewing data, ICER concluded that the...
LAST WORD: ICER’s Final Evidence Report on new Alzheimer’s treatment
On August 5, 2021, ICER issued its Final Evidence Report on aducanumab, a first-of-its-kind medication created to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Following its typical process for gathering information – which included the solicitation of public comments and a public...
RECOMMENDED READING: It is Time for Outcomes-Based Reimbursement for Biopharmaceuticals
By Robert Popovian & Mark Atalla July 16, 2021 Recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to aducanumab (Aduhelm), the first Alzheimer’s Disease treatment since 2003. While there has been significant discussion about aducanumab’s...