Session (CTI)

Purpose: The Health Economics Methods Advisory (HEMA) group recently released recommendations proposing updated approaches to defining and measuring benefits in economic evaluation. These recommendations respond to growing interest in broader value elements, alternative benefit metrics, and approaches that better capture patient and societal outcomes. However, questions remain about whether HEMA's recommendations sufficiently reflect the field’s expanding methodological frontier and the needs of HTA agencies operating in diverse policy environments. Overview: This issue panel will examine the opportunities and limitations of the HEMA recommendations through a structured, multi-perspective debate. Dr. Padula will open the session with a brief overview (10 minutes) of the HEMA initiative and the international context for expanded value frameworks. Dr. Lakdawalla will assess the conceptual foundations of the proposals and their relationship to emerging economic methods. Dr. Ollendorf will discuss implementation challenges from an HTA practitioner’s perspective, while Dr. Steuten will evaluate the recommendations’ alignment with global HTA practice and consider whether they go far enough to accommodate novel value concepts. Each panelist will present for approximately 10 minutes, followed by a moderated exchange and audience discussion (20 minutes). The session will benefit HTA researchers, policymakers, payers, and methodologists seeking clarity on how evolving benefit-measurement approaches can be responsibly adopted in practice.