As prices for prescription drugs keep rising, several organizations have developed different ways to assess the value of new medicines based on such attributes as cost, quality of life, and effectiveness. But a new survey finds that even as health plans continue to criticize drug prices, they have not yet embraced these new tools.
None of the 11 plans queried actively rely on these new methods and a majority do not expect to do so next year either, according to the survey conducted by Avalere Health and released today. The tools are being developed by four groups — the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, the National Comprehensive Care Network and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
The plans are “anxious to get better comparative information on the value of different therapies, but are also concerned these tools are somewhat nascent and not robust enough,” said Josh Seidman, an Avalere vice president. He noted that most respondents work as either medical director or pharmacy directors, and all but one serves on a committee that recommends prescription drug coverage.
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