Test Pricing and Reimbursement in Genomic Medicine: Towards a General Strategy.
This paper aims to provide an overview of the rationale and basic principles guiding the governance of genomic testing services, to clarify their objectives, and allocate and define responsibilities among stakeholders in a health-care system, with a special focus on the EU countries. Particular attention is paid to issues pertaining to pricing and reimbursement policies, the availability of essential genomic tests which differs between various countries owing to differences in disease prevalence and public health relevance, the prescribing and use of genomic testing services according to existing or new guidelines, budgetary and fiscal control, the balance between price and access to innovative testing, monitoring and evaluation for cost-effectiveness and safety, and the development of research capacity. We conclude that addressing the specific items put forward in this article will help to create a robust policy in relation to pricing and reimbursement in genomic medicine. This will contribute to an effective and sustainable health-care system and will prove beneficial to the economy at large.
Laboratory of Health Economics and Management, Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece.
Athanassios
A
Vozikis
David N
DN
Cooper
Christina
C
Mitropoulou
Manousos E
ME
Kambouris
Angela
A
Brand
Vita
V
Dolzan
Paolo
P
Fortina
Federico
F
Innocenti
Ming Ta Michael
MT
Lee
Lada
L
Leyens
Milan
M
Macek
Fahd
F
Al-Mulla
Barbara
B
Prainsack
Alessio
A
Squassina
Domenica
D
Taruscio
Ron H
RH
van Schaik
Effy
E
Vayena
Marc S
MS
Williams
George P
GP
Patrinos
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000191:economics; D023281:Genomics / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy / Q000191:economics; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000458:organization & administration*