Achieving Appropriate Model Transparency: Challenges and Potential Solutions for Making Value-Based Decisions in the...

Area of Science:

• Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR)
• Decision Modeling
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Transparency in decision modeling is debated due to intellectual property concerns versus potential benefits of external access.
• Existing transparency includes methods and technical specifications, but direct access to models is limited.
• Academic modelers face unique challenges in balancing transparency with proprietary interests.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate issues surrounding increased transparency in decision models through direct external access.
• To offer key considerations for health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) in the US.
• To explore pathways and provide an example of increased transparency in practice.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of benefits and challenges of direct model access from a US academic perspective.
• Review of strategies for increasing transparency, ranging from current practices to open-source models.
• Inclusion of a real-world example from work with the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER).

Main Results:

• Direct model access presents both opportunities for improved model development and risks to intellectual property.
• Adequate funding and security mechanisms are crucial for implementing increased transparency.
• Balancing stakeholder interests is key to achieving appropriate levels of transparency.

Conclusions:

• Increased transparency in decision modeling, if implemented correctly, can enhance model utility and integration into US healthcare decision-making.
• The appropriate level of transparency requires careful consideration of various stakeholder needs.
• Further development of funding and security mechanisms can facilitate greater model accessibility.