The Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC), the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and over 80 other patient advocacy organizations have sent a formal comment letter urging CMS not to move forward with their proposed Part B Drug Payment Model. Instead, we hope to continue working with the agency and other stakeholders to ensure that, as it seeks to advance value-based health care, it is supporting care valued by patients and people with disabilities.
On March 8, 2016, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a new Part B Drug Payment Model. Among its provisions, the proposal calls for use of comparative effectiveness research (CER) and cost-effectiveness reports as the basis for national Medicare policy, in direct conflict with the patient-centeredness movement and contrary to public support for policies that allow doctors and patients to decide the best course of treatment without government interference.
Since its inception, the Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) has been strongly opposed to misuse of CER and cost effectiveness in government policies. This proposal appears to have been rushed forward with little or no input from patients and people with disabilities. PIPC urges patients, people with disabilities and their organizations to weigh in with Congress and with CMS to oppose one-size-fits-all policies in Medicare.
We highlight the following significant implications for patients related to Phase 2 of the proposed Part B Drug Payment Model:
Since its inception, the Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) has been strongly opposed to misuse of CER and cost effectiveness in government policies. This proposal appears to have been rushed forward with little or no input from patients and people with disabilities. PIPC urges patients, people with disabilities and their organizations to weigh in with Congress and with CMS to oppose one-size-fits-all policies in Medicare.
We highlight the following significant implications for patients related to Phase 2 of the proposed Part B Drug Payment Model:
- Use of Payer-Centered Assessment Standards and Methods Including Those from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review
- Focus on One-Size-Fits-All Policy Standards and National Protocols Will Set Back the Drive for Patient-Centeredness and Disadvantage People with Disabilities
- Undermines ACA Protections Against Misuse of CER and CEA in Medicare
- Excluded Patients and People with Disabilities from a Seat at the Table in the Development of a Major Shift in Public Policy
| pipc_part_b_comments.pdf |
