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Boards of Directors Take Action in 2006
Marilyn Dix Smith PhD, ISPOR Executive Director ISPOR 2005-2006 Board of Directors (January 1-June 30, 2006): Peter J. Neumann,
ScD, Tufts University School of Medicine; Past- President - Lieven Annemans, PhD,
HEDM, Ghent University, HEDM and IMS Health; President-elect - Michael Drummond,
PhD, University of York; Directors - Joyce Cramer, Yale University School of Medicine;
Scott Ramsey, MD, PhD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Laurie Burke, MPH,
RPh, FDA; Jens Grueger, PhD, Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG; Isao Kamae, MD, DrPH,
Kobe University; Treasurer- Lorne Basskin, PharmD, Healthsouth Sunrise Rehabilitation
Hospital; Executive Director - Marilyn Dix Smith, RPh, PhD, ISPOR. ISPOR 2006-2007
Board of Directors (June 1-December 31, 2006): Michael Drummond, PhD, University
of York; Past- President - Peter J. Neumann, ScD, Tufts University School of Medicine;
President-elect - Diana Brixner PhD, University of Utah, College of Pharmacy; Directors
- Joyce Cramer, Yale University School of Medicine; Scott Ramsey, MD, PhD, Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Shu Chuen Li PhD, National University of
Singapore, Department of Pharmacy Science; Uwe Siebert MD, ScD, University of
Health Sciences, Medical Informatics & Technology; Marc Berger MD, Outcomes
Research & Management, Merck & Company, Inc.; Treasurer- Lorne Basskin, PharmD,
Healthsouth Sunrise Rehabilitation Hospital; Executive Director - Marilyn Dix Smith,
RPh, PhD, ISPOR.
The ISPOR 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 Boards of Directors had yet another busy year
in 2006. The Boards met six times (4 teleconferences and 2 face-to-face meetings).
The Board approved the following:
ISPOR Vision 2010 Implementation Board Actions:
Five key areas were identified by the ISPOR Vision 2010 Implementation Task Force as
presented by the ISPOR Vision 2010 Committee: Promote Education, International
Growth, Foster Research Excellence, Reach Out to Decision Makers, Foster Medical
Device, Diagnostics, and Biotechnology. The following are the Board actions for each
key area.
Foster Research Excellence
Goal: ...the Society will have enhanced its reputation by fostering and recognizing
excellence in our core disciplines, while maintaining its strength as a marketplace of
ideas and opportunities for its members.
The Board approved: 1.The regular update of best research practices; 2. Review of
qualifications of abstract reviewers; 3. Continue best practice training sessions at ISPOR meetings; 4. Continue to invite best methodologists and methodologists from
other disciplines to present at ISPOR meetings; 5. Provide a booklet of procedures for
the meeting program committee including a post-mortem teleconference to discuss
strengths and weaknesses and improvements to the meeting.
Reach Out To Decision Makers
Goal: ...Society will...include individuals interested in the use of information on the
costs and consequences of health care interventions as well as the processes by
which health care decisions are made.
The Board approved: 1. An RFP that allows ISPOR participation or advisory groups to
submit proposals for 'collaboration with health care decision makers' activities. The
RFP should specify the budget requested (up $30,000 per RFP was suggested).
Proposals are reviewed and approved by the Board. Results of the 'collaboration with
decision makers' must be reported to the Board and/or at an ISPOR meeting after completion
of the activity; 2. At each ISPOR annual meeting, one Invited Issue Panel must
be designated for decision-makers to present health economic and outcomes issues
important to them; 3. At each ISPOR annual meeting, a session by decision makers
dedicated to decision maker issues will be presented.
International Growth
Goal: '...support the growth of regional entities (e.g. Asia, US, other regions) under an
organizational structure that fosters the development and application of core disciplines,
while encouraging local priorities and practices to guide practical translation
and implementation'
The Board approved: 1. For up to 2% of the ISPOR membership, ISPOR will waive the
ISPOR membership fee for one year for individuals from economically developing
countries and who meet the criteria; 2. Develop a proposal for global representation on the ISPOR Board of Directors; 3. Up to 3 International Fellowships are awarded each
year with the objective to invest in key individuals who would further the activities of
ISPOR in their region, with eligibility limited to individuals outside North America and
the European Union who have met the selection criteria (i.e. plan on how to they will
further the mission of ISPOR in their country/region). The award is complimentary
registration and travel expenses to 2 consecutive ISPOR meetings. The requirements
are that after the Fellowship period, the International Fellow must submit an article for
publication in ISPOR CONNECTIONS outlining how he/she is furthering the mission of
ISPOR in his/her country/region.
Promote Education
Goal: ...regarding core disciplines in which educational activities are implicitly
included:...development of regional entities, ...fostering research excellence, ...focus
on biotechnology, medical devices and diagnostics.
The Board approved: 1. Develop a program to enable ISPOR local chapters to apply for
support for train the trainer sessions, invited lectures, or short courses. Local chapters
are eligible to submit a request for educational training every other year; 2. Develop
educational activities for health care decision makers and individuals from medical
devices, diagnostic, and biotech organizations; 3. Encourage fostering degree and nondegree
programs in pharmacoeconomics/health economics and outcomes research by
increasing the number of countries represented in the ISPOR Educational Directories.
Foster Outcomes Research For Medical Device And Diagnostics And
Biotechnology
Goal: ..actively recruit members focused on biotechnology products,
medical
devices, and diagnostics.
The Board approved: 1. Continue with the development of the Medical Device &
Diagnostics Councils and the Biotechnology Council; 2. Work with the Councils to
develop a strategy for increasing ISPOR membership in these sectors; 3. Through the
Councils, identify specific issues in both methodology and use of economics evaluation
for coverage and reimbursement decisions for devices and biotechnology products;
4. At each ISPOR annual meeting, one Invited Issue Panel must be dedicated to
medical device, diagnostic, or biotechnology issues.
Financial Actions:
2006 budget approved.
The Board approved that 1) not more than 25% of long-term funds should be in equity,
2) operating funds should be one year's operating expenses, and 3) $150k in the
operating funds is transferred to long-term funds.
The Board approved that, with regard to prohibited investments, direct investment in
companies who principle business is the manufacture or sale of pharmaceuticals,
medical devices, or diagnostics is prohibited.
The current ISPOR Treasurer, Lorne Basskin, ISPOR Treasurer (2004-2007), indicated
that he will not be seeking another term as Treasurer. The Board agreed that members
interested in the Treasurer 2007-2010 send a letter of interest, curricula vitae, and
requisite experience to the Board by January 1, 2007.
Award Actions:
ISPOR Board of Directors Service Awardees, Avedis Donebedian Lifetime
Achievement Awardee, Bernie O'Brien New Investigator Awardee, Research Excellence
Awardees, Distinguished Service Awardees (Student Chapter Presidents,
Committee/Task Force/Special Interest Group Chairs as well as past Committee/Task
Force/Special Interest Group Chairs, who produced a tangible product such as a paper)
were approved. For Awardees, see: http://www.ispor.org/awards/index_.asp and
http://www.ispor.org/awards/service/distinguish.asp
The Board approved the change in the Bernie J O'Brien New Investigator Award nominee
criteria from 'no more that 5 years from their entry level, salaried position in the
field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research (PE & OR)' to 'no more than 7
years from their first job in the field of PE & OR inclusive of any post-doctoral or other
fellowships'
A new International Fellowship Award was approved by the Board. For information
about this Award, see: http://www.ispor.org/awards/IntlFellowship.asp
Value in Health Actions:
The Board supports dedicated sections (classifications) to Value in Health (ViH)
and, since ViH should reflect the interests of the membership, presentations at ISPOR
meetings/congresses are a barometer of that interest. In addition, at the discretion of
the co-editors, papers in areas under-represented should be encouraged.
The Board approved the renewal of the 4-year contract between ISPOR and
Josephine Mauskopf as Value in Health Editor-in-Chief, effective May 1, 2006
With a dramatic increase in submissions to Value in Health in 2006, the Board
approved Adrian Levy PhD, Martin Backhouse PhD, and Kerstin (Chris) Bingefors as
Value in Health co-editors.
For the time period September 2004-September 2006, the average time for coeditors
to make their first decision on a manuscript was 206 days. The Board recommended
that, with the purpose to attract top quality papers, effective January 2007, (for
all new manuscripts) a goal of 100 days for co-editors' time for first decision be established
and that the Editor-in-Chief identify resources or actions to accomplish this goal.
Student Actions:
The ISPOR Student Chapters at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada); University of
Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA), and Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, PA,
USA) were approved.
Upon request by the ISPOR Student Council, the Board approved the Outstanding
ISPOR Student Chapter of the Year Award to recognize ISPOR Student Chapters which
provide exemplary service to its university, community and ISPOR, which include a
plaque and funding of $500 annually to the Outstanding ISPOR Student Chapter to be
used to support an invited lecturer for the chapter
Upon request by the ISPOR Student Council, the Board approved the ISPOR Student
Chapter Research Competition Award to foster chapter teamwork and recognize
research excellence. Annual competition at the ISPOR International Meeting testing
knowledge in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research, which includes a plaque
and funding of $500 annually, as registration fee and travel reimbursement to an annual
meeting, to the winning chapter of the ISPOR Student Chapter Research Competition.
Local Chapter Actions:
The following local chapters were approved: Brazil Chapter, Chinese Medical
Doctor's Society - Pharmacoeconomics Chapter, Turkish Society for Clinical
Pharmacology Chapter, Thailand Chapter, India Chapter, and Mexico Chapter.
The Board will approve all Chapter Annual Reports in March of each year.
Organizational Actions:
Background: There is a perception that ISPOR is an industry-driven organization. To
respond to this perception, the Board developed a declaration of independence, which
is at the ISPOR website at: http://www.ispor.org/finsupport.asp
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), a nonprofit
501(c)(3) public organization for educational and scientific purposes [as defined by the
United States Internal Revenue Service], exists to foster excellence in the science of pharmacoeconomics
and health outcomes research and its use in health care decisions. ISPOR
welcomes participation from individuals and organizations that share its mission, including
academic institutions, the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and devices industries, public and
private health insurers, governments, and NGOs. Financial support for ISPOR's core operations
are supplied by its members through membership dues. Meetings, Congresses, and
Conferences are supported through registration fees and event and corporate sponsorship.
Corporate, government, and nonprofit organizational sponsors are welcome and are recognized
by the Society in the meeting brochures and other postings. Meeting content, including
contributed issue panels, workshops, and research and plenary sessions are determined by
independent evaluators selected from the diverse membership of the society. These processes
are wholly independent from financial support. ISPOR retains the right to exclude sponsors
or programs that do not reflect its mission and values. ISPOR adheres to the principles
on conflict of interest promulgated by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors
and adopts core content from their "uniform principles" for all submissions to its meetings,
its journal, Value In Health, and its technical & news journal, ISPOR CONNECTIONS. All contributors
to public presentations at its meetings and to ISPOR-sponsored publications must
declare sources of support and potential conflicts of interest.
The Board recommended changes to the ISPOR Organization chart as follows and
at the ISPOR website at: https://www.ispor.org/orgchart.asp.
Meeting Actions:
The Board approved the revised Guidelines for Workshops at ISPOR meetings,
which is at the ISPOR website at: http://www.ispor.org/meetings/va0507/
submission_instr.asp.
Background: From time to time, Board Members have expressed concerns that certain
organizations use their involvement in ISPOR activities to market their products
and services. Whilst acknowledging that the exchange of information and the promotion
of goods and services is an important feature of ISPOR meetings, the concern is
that activities presented as scientific discourse may, in fact, be covert marketing exercises.
One particular area of concern is the workshop sessions at ISPOR meetings.
The current guidelines for Workshop submissions already state that 'the workshop
should NOT appear to be advertising the presenter's company's services or products'.
However, some reviewers of workshop proposals have suggested that many of these
are still 'thinly disguised marketing exercises'.
ISPOR recognizes that a primary purpose of workshops is to allow the presenter(s) to
demonstrate their competence in a topic or subject area. However, those signing up for
workshops expect a scientific discourse, so it is important that these are not used as
a marketing platform for the presenter's company's products or services. Therefore,
those evaluating workshop proposals have been asked to take the following factors into
account when making their assessments: 1. The workshop presentation should contain
original scientific content and not just report on the routine use of a single instrument
or tool; 2. Examples should be drawn from a number of sources and not just the
presenter(s)' own studies; 3. Preference should be given to proposals that involve presenters
from more than one organization and more than one sector.
In addition, ISPOR will seek feedback from workshop attendees on the issue of marketing
content. These evaluations will be taken into account when considering future proposals
from the same presenters.'
Special Interest Group / Committee / Task Force /
Council / Consortium Actions:
Special Interest Groups: The Board approved that the term for the SIG or
Working Group Chair is 2 years and renewable based on performance as demonstrated
by at least one 'work product' during the 2-year term and consistent communication
with Working Group Chairs or SIG Leadership Group and ISPOR staff. The Board
approved the following evaluation criteria for evaluating SIG communications and SIG
productivity.
Evaluation Criteria for Communications: SIG Chair: Communication with each Work
Group a minimum of one time each 3 months. Communication with the Reference
Group at least one time each 6 months. These contacts may be in coordination with
Work Group Chairs; Work Group Chair: Communication with the Work Group members
a minimum of one time each 2 months. Communication with the Reference Group at
least one time each 6 months. Communication with the SIG Chair a minimum of one
time each 2 months. At least 2 group meeting discussion summaries are issued each
year.
Evaluation Criteria for Productivity: Each Work Group within a SIG: 1.Delineation of
specific products and time line for completion within the first 6 months after initiation;
2. Outline of plan for product development within 12 months of initiation; 3. Draft of a
product within 18 months of initiation; 4. Delivery of a product within 24 months of initiation
(Note: A Work Group may continue if new goals are defined, or may be dissolved
after delivery of a product.)
Institutional Council: The Board approved a revised Institutional Council functions.
Mission: The Institutional Council of ISPOR supports the mission of ISPOR as a scientific
and professional society. The purpose of the council is to proactively: a) Promote
the development of the fields of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research;
b) Promote the application of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research results in
health care decision making; c) Promote enhancement of the quality of research by
institutional members; d) Promote, support, and actively contribute to ISPOR as a premier
scientific and professional society; and e) Act as an advisory body to the ISPOR
Board. The Institutional Council will be an official entity within ISPOR and will not
publicly take positions outside of ISPOR or use ISPOR's name, except with the explicit
consent of the ISPOR Board.
Functions: The functions of the Institutional Council include: a) Encouraging and
recruiting a diverse membership for the Council including providers, foundations, etc to
broaden the base of support for the mission of ISPOR; b) Acting as a liaison with member
institutions to keep them appraised of the affairs of ISPOR; c) Providing advice to
the ISPOR Board; e) Inviting the ISPOR Board to request comments from the Council's
on issues that would be germane to its members.
Health Science Policy Council: The Board agreed to the following Health Science
Policy Council policy & procedure: With regard to the Health Science Policy Council's
role in responding to policy issues affecting ISPOR members: 1. If the Council is to
draft a response, the Council will agree to a timeline requested by the Board; 2 If another
group within ISPOR drafts a response to a policy issue (either independently or on
behalf of the Board), the Council will review, if requested, and offer comments on a
timeline requested by the Board. The Board requested that: 1.The Council develops a
procedure to identify science policy issues and scientific issues (ideas) within the
Council to inform the Board; 2. The Council submits an annual report; 3. The Council
develops a charter (including chair rotation & membership, procedure for recognizing
issues from ISPOR members external to the Council, identifying issue 'champions'
external to the Council).
Biotechnology Council: The Board approved the formation of a Biotechnology
Council.
Health Science Actions:
The Board approved that: 1. probabilistic analysis in economic evaluations, as a
topic, is developed by the Council and 2. that, if the Council deemed necessary, the
Council should develop a specific proposal for a new ISPOR modeling task force that
would tackle a range of topics, such as probabilistic sensitivity analysis and take
responsibility for updating the ISPOR modeling guidelines when deemed necessary.
Background: The ISPOR Health Science Policy Council submitted the following
issue: What Drives Decision Makers When Basing Payment Decision on Cost per
QALY Results Actions requested was to organize a session at an Annual
Meeting/Congress on this topic. The Board suggested that this topic be submitted as
a Contributed Workshop, Contributed, or Invited Issue Panel for the next Annual
Meeting or Congress.
ISPOR Comments to Public Policy
The ISPOR Institutional Council drafted a letter to be sent from the ISPOR Board of
Directors or President to the JAMA Editor-in-Chief concerning JAMA's recent Data
Access and Responsibility Policy. Since this request was considered an ISPOR public
policy statement, and, according to the ISPOR Policies and Procedures concerning
public policy development, Board agreed that this letter is sent to the ISPOR membership
for comment with a 30 day comment period and that the cover memo to ISPOR
membership on this matter be written in an "agnostic" manner, (i.e. to reflect the fact
that the Board is considering the issue but has not yet made a decision). Based on
member comments, the Board approved a revised letter to JAMA concerning their policy
on data access and responsibility. A response from JAMA Editor-in-Chief, Catherine
DeAngelis, was then received July 2006. The Board felt that the Board does not need
to respond to the JAMA letter and that the JAMA letter is placed on the ISPOR website.
The JAMA editorial policy, the letter to JAMA Editor-in-Chief for the ISPOR Board of
Directors, and the response JAMA letter are at the ISPOR website at:
http://www.ispor.org/workpaper/ispor_comments/index.asp
The Board approved the letter of comment to the proposed US Medicare Ruling on
Use of Drug Claims Information for Outcomes Research drafted by the Leadership
Group of the ISPOR Retrospective Database SIG. For the ISPOR letter of comment to
the US Medicare Ruling on Use of Drug Claims Information for Outcomes Research,
see: http://www.ispor.org/workpaper/ispor_comments/index.asp
Background: The ISPOR Retrospective Database Special Interest Group developed
comments to the US Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' proposed ruling concerning
the use of Medicare prescription information to evaluate its prescription drug
program and for outcomes research purposes. Since ISPOR supports outcomes
research and its use in health care decision and to promote public (government)
awareness of ISPOR and its mission, it was felt that it is important for ISPOR to comment
on the proposed change.
ISPOR Policy & Procedures Actions:
The Board recognizes that from time-to-time the need to develop public policy statement
that, for major policy statements, the Board agreed that the Board must approve
these statements in a timely manner. An ISPOR public policy statement is any document
that represents a consensus development by ISPOR members and issued on
ISPOR stationery.
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