Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Traditional cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) remains central to health technology assessment (HTA), informing reimbursement and policy decisions. However, traditional CEA primarily considers direct healthcare costs and health outcomes, often neglecting more holistic impacts. Recent literature underscores the importance broader societal implications, equity, patient-centricity, and sustainability in value assessment frameworks (VAF). This study introduces a conceptual VAF designed to enable a more holistic HTA.
METHODS: A targeted non-systematic literature review was conducted to identify recent methodological advancements addressing the limitations of conventional CEA. Emphasis was placed on studies proposing broader value dimensions in health technology assessments.
RESULTS: Based on the literature review findings, we propose the IMPACT framework, encompassing six supplementary value dimensions often neglected in conventional CEA: I: integrating value of knowing: Includes benefits from reduced uncertainty, gaining additional information, and psychological reassurance. M: measuring patient-relevant outcomes: Includes patient experiences, preferences, and quality-of-life. P: prioritising health equity: Includes disparities in health outcomes, healthcare access, and disease rarity. A: addressing the severity of disease: Includes the societal preference for treatments targeting severe and high-burden conditions. C: considering societal impacts: Includes population health, overall societal well-being and productivity. T: targeting sustainability: Includes long-term environmental, economic, and health system sustainability. The IMPACT framework systematically identifies contextual supplementary value aspects relevant to the assessment at hand. Additionally, it provides methodological guidance on selecting appropriate methods for integrating these supplementary value aspects into economic evaluations.
CONCLUSIONS: Expanding traditional CEA through the incorporation of the IMPACT framework could enable more effective healthcare resource allocations, through more holistic understanding of the health technology’s value. Future research should focus on validating the framework's methodological applicability through real-world case studies and through stakeholder engagement.