ISSUE: Many disease areas have numerous technologies as potential treatments, resulting in complex sequential and multi-comparator decision spaces. Depending on the reimbursement process, model development and evidence synthesis efficiencies may be possible by developing a disease-specific reference model. As the development and interest in disease-specific reference models become more ubiquitous, this panel offers the opinions of 3 stakeholders on the advantages and challenges they foresee with disease-specific reference models.

OVERVIEW: There is significant literature on ‘reference models’, which enable a single model to consider multiple decision nodes along a treatment pathway, informing multiple decision problems, minimising duplication of effort and improving internal consistency. However, their use for reimbursement has been relatively limited.

Many HTA agencies are seeing an increase in technologies needing appraising. Several agencies are developing reference models, creating an opportunity for innovative methods to help ensure the sustainability of HTA processes across established and newer agencies.

Companies undertake significant work to develop and adapt cost-effectiveness models for reimbursement submissions in many counties. Disease-specific reference models would change the dynamic between the HTA agency and industry. Companies must consider the potential for a more efficient and speedy process against the challenge of ensuring the reference model best reflects a value proposition and accommodates the latest relevant evidence.

The moderator will provide an overview of disease-specific reference models for 5 minutes to ensure all attendees understand the context of the session. Then each panellist will present the expected impact on their organisation. The proposed speakers have been specifically selected to ensure that diverse backgrounds and views are represented.

To ensure the issue panel is interactive and provides a learning opportunity for attendees, live polling functionality will be utilised, and time will be reserved for a moderated Q&A session. This panel will be of interest to researchers, clinicians, HEOR industry colleagues and payers.