The Patient Not in the Room
Authors: Steven D. Pearson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2020)

EditorialsJanuary 2021The Patient Not in the RoomSteven D. Pearson, MD, MScSteven D. Pearson, MD, MScInstitute for Clinical and Economic Review, Boston, Massachusetts (S.D.P.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M20-7052 Annals Author Insight Video - Steven D. Pearson MD, MSc In this video, Steven D. Pearson MD, MSc, offers additional insight into the article, "The Patient Not in the Room." (Duration 3:26) SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In their article, Vanness and colleagues (1) explore the best way to establish a cost-effectiveness threshold for policy considerations. This may seem an arcane matter in cost-effectiveness analysis that is of interest to few beyond health economists. However, there are several reasons why this work may profoundly affect everything from clinical guidelines to insurance coverage policies to Medicare negotiation of drug prices.The U.S. health care system continues to prove itself incapable of providing affordable, high-quality care to all Americans. Since 2009, the amount that workers pay for health insurance has increased 71% while wages have increased 26% (2). In ...References1. Vanness DJ, Lomas J, Ahn H. A health opportunity cost threshold for cost-effectiveness analysis in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2021;174:25-32. doi:10.7326/M20-1392 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Palosky C, Ducat S. Benchmark employer survey finds average family premiums now top $20,000. Kaiser Family Foundation. 25 September 2019. Accessed at www.kff.org/health-costs/press-release/benchmark-employer-survey-finds-average-family-premiums-now-top-20000 on 19 October 2020. Google Scholar3. Berchick ER, Barnett JC, Upton RD. Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2018. Current Population Report no. P60-267 (RV). US Gov Pr Office; 2019. Accessed at www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2019/demo/p60-267.pdf on 19 October 2020. Google Scholar4. Saad L. More Americans delaying medical treatment due to cost. Gallup. 9 December 2019. Accessed at https://news.gallup.com/poll/269138/americans-delaying-medical-treatment-due-cost.aspx on 19 October 2020. Google Scholar5. Witters D. Millions In US lost someone who couldn't afford treatment. Gallup. 12 November 2019. Accessed at https://news.gallup.com/poll/268094/millions-lost-someone-couldn-afford-treatment.aspx on 19 October 2020. Google Scholar6. Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. Webinar series: perspectives on US cost-effectiveness thresholds. 29 July 2019. Accessed at https://icer-review.org/blog/webinar-series-ce-thresholds on 19 October 2020. Google Scholar7. Lomas J, Martin S, Claxton K. Estimating the marginal productivity of the English National Health Service from 2003 to 2012. Value Health. 2019;22:995-1002. [PMID: 31511189] doi:10.1016/j.jval.2019.04.1926 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Woods B, Revill P, Sculpher M, et al. Country-level cost-effectiveness thresholds: initial estimates and the need for further research. Value Health. 2016;19:929-935. [PMID: 27987642] doi:10.1016/j.jval.2016.02.017 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Phelps CE. A new method to determine the optimal willingness to pay in cost-effectiveness analysis. Value Health. 2019;22:785-791. [PMID: 31277825] doi:10.1016/j.jval.2019.03.003 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Glassman P, Pearson S, Zacher J, et al. VA and ICER at three years: critics' concerns answered. Health Affairs Blog. 15 June 2020. Accessed at www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200611.662048/full on 19 October 2020. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, Boston, Massachusetts (S.D.P.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M20-7052.Corresponding Author: Steven D. Pearson, MD, MSc, Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, Two Liberty Square, Ninth Floor, Boston, MA 02109; e-mail, [email protected]org.This article was published at Annals.org on 3 November 2020. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement Annals Author Insight Video - Steven D. Pearson MD, MSc In this video, Steven D. Pearson MD, MSc, offers additional insight into the article, "The Patient Not in the Room." (Duration 3:26) FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoA Health Opportunity Cost Threshold for Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in the United States David J. Vanness , James Lomas , and Hannah Ahn Metrics Cited byValuing Cures: Not If, But When?Cornerstones of 'fair' drug coverage: appropriate cost sharing and utilization management policies for pharmaceuticals January 2021Volume 174, Issue 1Page: 109-110KeywordsCOVID-19DisclosureDrug pricesHealth careHealth economicsHealth insuranceHealth surveysHealth systems strengtheningQuality adjusted life yearsStroke ePublished: 3 November 2020 Issue Published: January 2021 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2020 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...