ISSUE: Open-source models (OSM) have the potential to increase transparency and efficiency in health economic modeling and health technology assessment (HTA), but the number of OSM remains low. Researchers have identified numerous challenges that hamper the uptake of OSM, as well as facilitators for their increased adoption. This panel session will take the debate beyond academia, addressing the barriers and facilitators for OSM from HTA, industry, and policy perspectives.

OVERVIEW: A recent survey of ISPOR members indicated that participants see great potential for OSM to address transparency and confidence in health economic modeling, as well as facilitate model updating and efficiency. However, the number of OSM remains low. Several challenges regarding updatability, legal concerns, and data sharing were identified, whereas the development of an interactive repository may be an important facilitator to increase the number and use of OSM. This panel will debate the importance and feasibility of these barriers and facilitators from the perspective of health technology assessment agencies, academic researchers, solutions providers, industry and health policy makers. Dr Sampson, Chair of the ISPOR OSM Special Interest Group, will introduce the topic and each presenter’s perspective (10 minutes). Dr Dawoud will provide the perspective of a health technology assessment agency, Dr Degeling will provide a technical academic/consulting perspective, and Dr Gilardino will provide the industry/policy perspective. Dr Sampson will then guide the panelists through a discussion of the barriers and facilitators for OSM in a plenary-style format (30 minutes), where the audience will be encouraged to contribute their perspectives. Finally, the audience will be given the opportunity to put forward further topics for debate or questions (20 minutes). This session will particularly benefit those who develop or appraise health economic models and who are interested in contributing to the discussion of the future of OSM in health economics.