Patient-centricity and transparency are essential for assessing value in health care

Alexandria, VA — March 3, 2022 — The Innovation and Value Initiative (IVI), a non-profit research organization committed to advancing the science, practice, and use of value assessment in health care, today submitted comments on the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) Draft Evidence Report for Treatments for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the uncertainties associated with evaluating the clinical and economic value of novel treatments. We agree with ICER that it is important to assess the health and economic outcomes of drugs for the treatment of mild-to-moderate newly diagnosed COVID-19. After review of the Draft Report, we have several concerns about the process and substance of the analyses. IVI encourages ICER to conduct analyses that reflect and align with recognized principles of value assessment, including, but not limited to:

  • Sustains Authentic Patient Centricity. The Draft Report includes qualitative input from only three patients, which may not be seen as a representative sample for the purposes of this assessment. Given the differential impacts of COVID on different subgroups in our society, it is crucial to engage with patients from diverse communities in the conceptualization of an economic model.
  • Advances Transparency. IVI believes that full access to the methodologies, calculations, and functioning of the model should be standard.
  • Focuses Value Discussion Across Treatment Interventions. While the scope of this assessment is clearly focused on treatment interventions for mild-to-moderate COVID-19, IVI sees a missed opportunity by not addressing an obvious comparator: prevention measures, including masks and vaccination.

IVI supports value assessment approaches that produce credible and relevant information to support decision-making that maximizes benefits to patients with the greatest efficiency for the health system.

To read IVI’s full comments, click here.

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About the Innovation and Value Initiative
The Innovation and Value Initiative (IVI) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing the science and improving the practice of value assessment through development of novel methods and the creation and application of enhanced value assessment models to support local decision-making needs in healthcare.

Media Contact: Eric Hoffman, (202) 285-0810