In This Week’s Issue:
 
1. Value Assessments – the Impact on People with Rare Diseases, click here to learn more and watch the webinar.
2. The Hill: Health Systems Must Help Patients Make Informed Decisions, click here to read the article.
3. Op-Ed: ICER's Agenda Helped by Media Attention, click here to read the article.
4. FH Foundation Publication on Cardiovascular Outcomes, click here to read the article.
5. ICER Announces Possible 2020 Assessments, click here to see the list of possible assessments.
6. AAR Seeks Recruits for Annual Senior Patient and Family Caregivers Network Training, click here to learn more and to apply for the training.
7. International News: What Happens in Countries Using QALYs and Cost-Based Thresholds to Determine Coverage? See below for more. 
8. ICER Studies: Type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy click here to provide patient input.
9. Upcoming Events and Webinars, see details below.
10. Medical Journal Articles, see details below.
11. AHRQ Effective Program Updates, see details below.  

In This Week’s Issue:
 
1. Value Assessments – the Impact on People with Rare Diseases, click here to learn more and watch the webinar.
2. Webinar: What's Ahead for Comparative Effective Research? Click here to learn more and RSVP.
3. The Evidence Base Interview: Quarreling Over the QALY, click here to read the full interview.
4. Value Our Health Op-Ed: Stop Discriminatory Value Assessments, click here to read the op-ed.
5. Veterans Groups in California Comment on ICER’s 2020 Framework, click here to read the American Legion letter and click here to read the joint letter.
6. NHC Rubric to Capture the Patient Voice, click here to learn more and see the rubric.
7. AJMC: Precision Medicines Need Precision Patient Assistance Programs, click here to read the article.
8. ICER Announces Possible 2020 Assessments, click here to see the list of possible assessments.
9. AAR Seeks Recruits for Annual Senior Patient and Family Caregivers Network Training, click here to learn more and to apply for the training.
10. International News: What Happens in Countries Using QALYs and Cost-Based Thresholds to Determine Coverage? See below for more. 
11. ICER Studies: Type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy click here to provide patient input.
12. Upcoming Events and Webinars, see details below.
13. Medical Journal Articles, see details below.
14. AHRQ Effective Program Updates, see details below.  

In This Week’s Issue:
 
1. Webinar: Value Assessments – the Impact on People with Rare Diseases, see below for details.
2. Value Our Health Op-Ed: Stop Discriminatory Value Assessments, click here to read the op-ed.
3. Veterans Groups in California Comment on ICER’s 2020 Framework, click here to read the American Legion letter and click here to read the joint letter.
4. Alliance for Aging Research: Video on ICER’s Methodology, click here to see the video.
5. PIPC Patient Blog: CancerCare Response to 'Mouse That Roared,' click here to read the blog.
6. NHC Rubric to Capture the Patient Voice, click here to learn more and see the rubric.
7. ICER Announces Possible 2020 Assessments, click here to see the list of possible assessments.
8. University of Maryland Welcomes Patients, Researchers to PATIENTS Day, click here to read more.
9. AAR Seeks Recruits for Annual Senior Patient and Family Caregivers Network Training, click here to learn more and to apply for the training.
10. International News: What Happens in Countries Using QALYs and Cost-Based Thresholds to Determine Coverage? See below for more. 
11. ICER Studies: Type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy click here to provide patient input.
12. Upcoming Events and Webinars, see details below.
13. Medical Journal Articles, see details below.
14. AHRQ Effective Program Updates, see details below.  

1. PIPC Patient Blog: CancerCare Response to 'Mouse That Roared,' click here to read the blog.
2. Patient Advocates Say ICER Uses Discriminatory Cost Metrics, click here to read the full article.
3. Pioneer Institute Report Addresses Shortcomings of ICER Models to Evaluate Rare Disease Treatments, click here to read the report.
4. Webinar: Value Assessments – the Impact on People with Rare Diseases, see below for details.
5. AAR Seeks Recruits for Annual Senior Patient and Family Caregivers Network Training, click here to learn more and to apply for the training.
6. International News: What Happens in Countries Using QALYs and Cost-Based Thresholds to Determine Coverage? See below for more. 
7. ICER Studies: Type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy click here to provide patient input.
8. Upcoming Events and Webinars, see details below.
9. Medical Journal Articles, see details below.
10. AHRQ Effective Program Updates, see details below. 

By: Carole Florman 
​
No one who works with or advocates for patients disagrees that drug prices in this country are too high. At CancerCare, an organization that provides free professional support services and information to people affected by cancer, we disagree with the article’s premise that the answer is either out of control prices or ICER’s fundamentally flawed assessment process that discriminates against patients, people with disabilities, and older people.

In This Week’s Issue:
 
1. Patient Advocates Say ICER Uses Discriminatory Cost Metrics, click here to read the full article.
2. Webinar: Value Assessments – the Impact on People with Rare Diseases, see below for details.
3. PIPC and NAMI Express Concern that Flawed ICER Report Will Limit Access to Groundbreaking New Depression Treatment, click here to read the full article. 
4. Value Our Health Capitol Hill Briefing Recap, click here to read more.
5. PIPC Submits Comment Letter to ICER Outlining Concerns with Draft Evidence Report on DMD, click here to read the letter.
6. PIPC, Patient and Disability Groups Highlight Concerns with ICER’s Value Assessment Framework, click here to read the letter.
7. Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Opposes Use of QALYs and Discriminatory Benefit Design, click here to view the full recommendations.
8. The Perils of QALYs Event Recap, click here to read more.
9. International News: What Happens in Countries Using QALYs and Cost-Based Thresholds to Determine Coverage? See below for more. 
10. ICER Studies: Type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy click here to provide patient input.
11. Submit 2019 Fly-ins, Advocacy Days, and Conferences to Democratic Caucus, click here to submit your events.
12. Upcoming Events and Webinars, see details below.
13. Medical Journal Articles, see details below.
14. AHRQ Effective Program Updates, see details below.