OBJECTIVES:

Accelerating innovations in different types of health technology call for improved methods and processes to better define and measure innovation in health technology assessment (HTA). Our objective was to engage cross-stakeholder experts to identify prioritized areas for future research to better define and measure the innovative properties of novel health technologies.

METHODS:

A targeted search was first conducted to identify systematic review articles for attributes used to define and measure innovation in HTA frameworks worldwide. Guidance documents from three HTA agencies not considered in the review articles were also examined. Based on the extractions, we compiled a starting list of attributes and categorized them into domains. An Expert Roundtable was subsequently held on October 17, 2020, where 11 stakeholders representing patient, employer, clinician, payer, industry, and researcher perspectives participated in facilitated group discussions to identify attributes that were missing and/or should be removed, and attributes that required additional research in methods and data. Participants voted on the top 3 attributes for future research. A discussion guide was developed to facilitate the roundtable.

RESULTS:

The initial list comprised 23 attributes across six domains including therapeutic properties, side effects and convenience, underlying health conditions, long-term dynamic effects, economic and social impacts, and equity impacts. Participants identified an additional 10 attributes that should be included (e.g., impacts on non-health sectors) and 4 attributes that should be removed (e.g., costs of the novel technology). A total of 14 attributes were identified as ones that needed additional research in methods and data, among which real-option value, scientific spillover, and broader societal impacts were voted as prioritized areas for research into measurement of innovation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Methods and data require transformation to better incorporate innovation considerations into HTA. Such improvements will help ensure long-term efficiency of our innovation system and ultimately improve social welfare.