Health Economics Methods Advisory Group Selects First Area for Study: Assessing Treatment Benefits Appropriate to Consider in HTA Decision-Making

The US-based Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), England’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) have selected the first research topic for the Health Economics Methods Advisory (HEMA) group: an assessment of the benefits of treatment that are appropriate to consider in health technology assessment (HTA) decision-making.

“There has been a recent growth in literature describing potential additional benefits to incorporate into HTA analyses,” said Mark Sculpher, PhD, Chair of the HEMA Working Group. “For example, some researchers state that if the existence of a treatment makes patients more hopeful for the future, then this benefit should be reflected in the agreed price of the treatment. The goal of HEMA’s first project is to assess these newly proposed benefits and determine the strength of the cases for inclusion in studies supporting HTA decisions. This type of project will be helpful for HTA bodies like ICER, NICE, and CDA-AMC that are concerned with real-world implementation and need consistent and coherent approaches to economic evaluation.”

This first topic will focus on developing specific guidance for HTA organizations on the principles for identifying potential new benefits to include in economic studies, how to implement any changes to benefits, and any measurement challenges that may exist.

The working group will now enter a scoping phase and will aim to publish a final report in December 2025.

Visit the ICER website for more information on the HEMA Working Group Guiding Principles.

About ICER

ICER is an independent, nonprofit research institute that conducts evidence-based reviews of health care interventions, including prescription drugs, other treatments, and diagnostic tests. In collaboration with patients, clinical experts, and other key stakeholders, ICER analyzes the available evidence on the benefits and risks of these interventions to measure their value and suggest fair prices. ICER also regularly reports on the barriers to care for patients and recommends solutions to ensure fair access to prescription drugs. For more information about ICER, please visit www.icer.org.

About NICE

NICE helps practitioners and commissioners get the best care to people, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer. They do this by:

• producing useful and usable guidance for health and care practitioners
• providing rigorous, independent assessment of complex evidence for new health technologies
• developing recommendations that focus on what matters most and drive innovation into the hands of health and care practitioners
• encouraging the uptake of best practice to improve outcomes for everyone.

About Canada’s Drug Agency

Canada’s Drug Agency is an independent, not-for-profit organization responsible for providing Canada’s health care decision-makers with objective evidence to help make informed decisions about the optimal use of drugs and medical devices in our health care systems.