Advocates in Oregon joined a letter to the Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) related to their review of proposed policy options to guide the Commission's use of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in meeting materials and decision-making.
The groups continue to be concerned about the discriminatory implications of the QALY metric that run contrary to federal disability and civil rights laws and urged the HERC to discontinue its use of QALYs, consistent with the guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the State of Oregon when rejecting the state’s original waiver application 30 years ago in 1992. The letter also urges the HERC to support Oregon’s health equity goals and choose to lead in development of alternative coverage strategies.
The Oregon Health Authority expressed in verbal comments the state’s intent to continue to use a prioritized list, shifting it to a State Plan Amendment after 2027 and ending its use under the waiver, raising the urgency of addressing the state’s use of QALYs.
The Oregon Health Authority expressed in verbal comments the state’s intent to continue to use a prioritized list, shifting it to a State Plan Amendment after 2027 and ending its use under the waiver, raising the urgency of addressing the state’s use of QALYs.
| herc_letter.pdf |