April 10, 2017– The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has posted a Draft Scoping Document for an upcoming report on certain cognitive and mind-body interventions for chronic low back and neck pain. ICER’s report is expected to review the evidence on acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, yoga, and tai chi. Report analyses will also provide information on the cost-effectiveness of the interventions compared to other commonly used treatments. The Draft Scoping Document will be open to public comment for three weeks until April 28, 2017 at 5pm ET.
The draft scoping document was developed with input from key stakeholders, including relevant patient organizations and clinical experts, which provided important insights into the context of treatment decisions. Patient advocacy organizations highlighted the serious impact chronic low back and neck pain can have on patients’ lives, often forcing patients to limit or stop normal daily activities. While common treatment options include pharmacologic therapies as well as physical therapy, at least some mind-body interventions have been evaluated in clinical trials. ICER’s report will seek to clarify the effectiveness of mind-body interventions as complementary therapies and/or alternatives to pharmacologic or physical therapies.
ICER will continue to engage with patient groups, clinicians, and other stakeholders to assess appropriate outcomes and comparators and to enrich the evidence available from clinical trials.
All interested stakeholders, including patients, providers, and payers, are encouraged to submit comments and suggested refinements to the scope to ensure all perspectives are adequately considered. All comments must be received by April 28, 2017 at 5pm ET. Comments can be submitted by email to publiccomments@icer-review.org. More information about submitting a public comment, including formatting specifications, is available on ICER’s website. Specific guidance for patient groups is available in ICER’s Patient Participation Guide. Following the public comment period, a revised scoping document will be posted on or about May 8, 2017.
The California Technology Assessment Forum (CTAF) will evaluate the report at a public meeting on October 19, 2017. CTAF is an independent, regional body of practicing physicians, methodological experts, and leaders in patient advocacy and engagement that provides objective, independent guidance on the application of medical evidence to clinical practice and payer policy decisions.
During the October 2017 public meeting, the Panel will vote on key questions raised in the report, and a policy roundtable of patient, clinical, payer, and policy experts will discuss recommendations for how best to apply the evidence to policy and practice.
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is an independent non-profit research institute that produces reports analyzing the evidence on the effectiveness and value of drugs and other medical services. ICER’s reports include evidence-based calculations of prices for new drugs that accurately reflect the degree of improvement expected in long-term patient outcomes, while also highlighting price levels that might contribute to unaffordable short-term cost growth for the overall health care system.
ICER’s reports incorporate extensive input from all stakeholders and are the subject of public hearings through three core programs: the California Technology Assessment Forum (CTAF), the Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (Midwest CEPAC), and the New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (New England CEPAC). These independent panels review ICER’s reports at public meetings to deliberate on the evidence and develop recommendations for how patients, clinicians, insurers, and policymakers can improve the quality and value of health care. For more information about ICER, please visit ICER’s website.