PIPC, alongside the United Spinal Association, requested changes to the VA National Formulary Act to ensure changes to the formulary development process are centered on patients and people with disabilities.
The letter to Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) emphasizes that the VA should be a model for putting veterans first by engaging them in benefit management decisions and embracing shared decision-making tools and decision aids that will ensure patients get care tailored to their needs.
Accordingly, we urged the consideration of provisions that would center the bill on veterans by 1) eliminating references to cost effectiveness, 2) banning the use of QALYs and similar measures like the equal value of life year gained (evLYG), whether directly or indirectly through reference to organizations like ICER, and 3) adding provisions that provide a meaningful voice for patients and people with disabilities in the formulary decision-making process.
"Our request is grounded in current U.S. health care values and health policy and informed by our experience," the letter states. "The QALY’s discriminatory effects on older adults, people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations have been long recognized, prompting legislative efforts to build on the existing statutory prohibition against use of QALYs in Medicare."
Accordingly, we urged the consideration of provisions that would center the bill on veterans by 1) eliminating references to cost effectiveness, 2) banning the use of QALYs and similar measures like the equal value of life year gained (evLYG), whether directly or indirectly through reference to organizations like ICER, and 3) adding provisions that provide a meaningful voice for patients and people with disabilities in the formulary decision-making process.
"Our request is grounded in current U.S. health care values and health policy and informed by our experience," the letter states. "The QALY’s discriminatory effects on older adults, people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations have been long recognized, prompting legislative efforts to build on the existing statutory prohibition against use of QALYs in Medicare."
| pipc_va_formulary_act_final.pdf |
