Value Assessments
A value assessment is an assessment or evaluation process that attempts to assign value to a healthcare treatment or service. Value assessment is also sometimes known as a health technology assessment or HTA. A value assessment is done to understand if the perceived benefit is enough to justify the cost. Value assessments are used by the people who determine which treatments or medications are put on the insurance company's formulary, or preferred list.
AiArthritis Position Statement On Value Assessments
AiArthritis believes that any system used to decide which treatments are “worth” covering must include what matters most to patients—our goals, quality of life, and daily challenges. One measurement tool, called the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) tries to measure the value of a treatment based only on how much it helps people with basic tasks like eating or bathing. We believe this metric can unfairly undervalue treatments for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities. AiArthritis supports a more complete and patient-centered approach—one that includes real-world patient input, updated cost information, and how treatments help people live fuller, better lives over time. Patients must have a voice in how treatment value is measured—because we are the ones who live with the disease every day.
Patient Written Glossary of Terms
Frequently, everyday terms when navigating a diagnosis of an AiArthritis Disease—such as "payer"—can lead to confusion. Therefore, we have developed a glossary to assist!
Discover Patient Journeys Through Value Assessments In Our Video Library!
The Patient-Instructed Video Library
The Patient-Instructed Video Library was created to help our community gain a deeper understanding of critical issues that affect access to health care. The goals of this initiative are to educate, inspire fellow patients to share their experiences, and empower our community to take action in addressing access-related challenges.
About Value Assessments (FULL VIDEO): Tiffany's Perspective
Tiffany, AiArthritis CEO and person living with non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis, explaining the definition of Value Assessments, the benefits of having it part of our rheumatology therapy, and why patients should care
What are Value Assessments/Health Technology Assessments? (Tiffany's Perspective)
Tiffany explains the definition of Value Assessments, or Health Technology Assessments (HTAs).
Value Assessments: What Patients Should Understand (Tiffany's Perspective)
What patients should understand about Value Assessments, including why they are done, and how they may impact your access to treatments.
Value Assessments: What Patients Should Understand (Kerry's Perspective)
Kerry, AiArthritis Volunteer and person living with Sarcoidosis and other AiArthritis conditions, explaining what patients should understand about Value Assessments, including why they are done, and how they may impact your access to treatments.
Value Assessment Patient Story: Abby's Perspective
Abby, an AiArthritis volunteer and a person living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis, shares her insights on value assessments. With 37 years since her diagnosis, Abby sheds light on the crucial differences between disease progressions. Surgeries, comorbidities, and an intricate mix of autoimmune conditions make her treatment plan vastly distinct from someone diagnosed only a few years ago. Value assessments often overlook these individual complexities, failing to account for the intricate "autoimmune soup" that occurs when inflammation remains uncontrolled. Abby's perspective reminds us why considering subgroups is vital for fair and accurate assessments.
Value Assessment Patient Story: Tiffany's Perspective
Tiffany, AiArthritis CEO and person living with non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis, emphasizes the significance of patient involvement in value assessments. While we're familiar with access challenges during treatment, she urges us to focus on the earlier stage—right after clinical trials, where value assessments play a role in determining access levels for medications. Understanding this process helps us advocate for our future treatments and grasp the impact these assessments have on our current care.
Learn More By Exploring Our Video Library
Did you know that access to healthcare and treatments is frequently tied to policies like government healthcare systems and insurance companies? Recognizing these influences and sharing YOUR experiences with legislators to illustrate the need for policy change is crucial!
Share Your Value Assessments Experience
Would you share your experience with us? We’d like to hear how you navigated challenges in obtaining healthcare or treatments. What obstacles did you face, and how have they shaped your journey? Your insights could be invaluable to others in similar situations.
Class Is In Session! Value Assessments
About The Classroom: Lead instructors, including our CEO Tiffany, who has non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and is a former award-winning college instructor, will collaborate with Class Discussion Leaders living with our diseases to host engaging webinars and AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show segments.
Value Assessments Class: Controversial drug assessments that determine if a new therapies value is worth the cost. Patient involvement in research & the assessment process can help ensure drugs certain patient subgroups need remain accessible.
How To Get More Involved!
Ready to deepen your involvement? Share experiences to support our fight for change with AiArthritis—join us for co-writing letters, virtual Field Trips, or become an inaugural AiAdvocate in our policy leadership program!
Join the Knowledge = Empowerment Program
A virtual, patient-led classroom approach designed to help patients understand legislative issues affecting treatment access and connect them with opportunities to advocate for change.
#WTHellth?!
Share your frustrations with the healthcare system using #WTHellth. Prefer privacy? Submit a written rant anonymously through AiArthritis’ RANT! program, selecting the #WTHellth category.