ICER seeking public input on proposed changes to its value assessment framework

The proposed updates are based on ICER’s experience with its current framework, as well as benchmarking with other health technology assessment (HTA) groups and input from external stakeholders.

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has announced it will be updating its value assessment framework to take into account new experience gained in methods development for health technology assessment (HTA) reports in the US, benchmarking with other global HTA agencies, and feedback from stakeholders across the US healthcare system. The update will also include key changes identified in their recent white paper recommending HTA strategies to improve health equity. The value assessment framework used by in the US to assess the value of healthcare interventions was updated in 2019 and subsequently published in 2020.

ICER puts forth several updates to the value assessment framework, which include:

• Clinical trial diversity ratings and other methods adaptations related to health equity
• Cost-effectiveness scenarios related to potential effects of Medicare drug price negotiation under the Inflation Reduction Act
• New methods to ensure that cost-effectiveness analyses done according to a modified societal perspective have ‘non-zero’ inputs for impacts on productivity for the patient and caregivers, even when direct data are lacking.

Commenting on the proposed changes, Steven Pearson, President of ICER explained, “Since our inception, ICER has strived to combine state-of-the-art academic methods with active engagement of all stakeholders in the US health system,” he continued, “We need to stay willing to change. We need to listen constantly to those engaged in our reviews and to explore ways to change our methods to keep evolving and improving. We look forward to formal public input on these draft proposals for the next iteration of our value assessment framework.”

ICER is seeking public comment on these changes up to June 30th, 2023. The updated Value Assessment Framework is expected around September 25th, 2023, once ICER has taken into consideration the comments they receive.