What Is the Evidence from Past National Institute of Health and Care Excellence Single-Technology Appraisals Regarding Company Submissions with Base-Case Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios of Less Than £10,000/QALY?

BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recently proposed that company submissions with a base-case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of less than £10,000/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) might be eligible for a "fast-track" appraisal.

OBJECTIVES: To explore outcomes relating to previously conducted single-technology appraisals (STAs) with base-case ICERs of less than £10,000/QALY.

METHODS: All STAs with published guidance from 2009 to 2016 were included; those with company base-case ICERs of less than £10,000/QALY were identified and analyzed. A secondary analysis was also conducted for those with a company base-case ICER of £10,000 to £15,000/QALY. Relevant data were extracted and presented in a narrative and in tables.

RESULTS: In total, 15% (26 of 171) of STAs included a company submission with a base-case ICER of less than £10,000/QALY. Of these, 73% (19 of 26) were given positive recommendations after the first Appraisal Committee (AC) meeting, whereas 27% (7 of 26) were initially given a Minded No before receiving a positive recommendation in the final appraisal determination, albeit with restricted recommendations for three technologies. Five STAs had company base-case ICERs of £10,000 to £15,000/QALY and all received a positive recommendation after the first AC meeting.

CONCLUSIONS: Most previous STAs with a company base-case ICER of £10,000 or even £15,000/QALY received a positive recommendation after the first AC meeting, but a number of them proved more complicated and required detailed appraisal, which influenced the final recommendation. This finding might have implications for the proposed fast-track process of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.