Methods used in early value assessments for nice: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Health economics
• Health technology assessment
• Health services research

Background:

• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England implemented early value assessments (EVAs) to expedite access to innovative health technologies.
• EVAs aim to address unmet medical needs and align with the National Health Service's Long Term Plan.
• A gap exists in published literature detailing the methodological commonalities and differences across EVA Assessment Reports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of completed EVAs published by NICE.
• To identify and analyze the methods employed in the Assessment Reports of early value assessments.
• To highlight variations and consistencies in methodologies used within EVAs.

Main Methods:

• A rapid scoping review was performed on all completed EVAs available on the NICE website up to July 23, 2024.
• Screening and data extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers using a piloted form.
• Data were synthesized and presented using narrative summaries, graphical, or tabular formats.

Main Results:

• Seventeen EVA Reports from sixteen EVAs were included.
• Methodological reporting varied, with some reports omitting details on reviewer numbers and data extraction.
• Planned analytical approaches included meta-analyses (5), narrative syntheses (9), and narrative summaries (7).
• Eleven conceptual decision models were used, with economic evaluations comprising cost-utility analyses (5), cost-effectiveness analyses (4), and cost-consequence analyses (3).

Conclusions:

• Enhanced transparency in reporting methods is recommended for future EVA Reports.
• EVAs present opportunities for adopting novel methodological approaches.
• Increased flexibility in communication between EVA authors, stakeholders (patients, clinicians, companies), and NICE is encouraged.