Identifies action plan to address comments for the model protocol

Alexandria, VA — April 6, 2022 — The Innovation and Value Initiative (IVI), an independent, nonprofit research organization committed to advancing the science, practice, and use of value assessment in healthcare, today released a summary of the themes identified in public comments received on its draft model protocol for depression, and outlined planned responses to these comments.

In keeping with IVI’s principle of transparency, the organization held a public comment period on its draft model protocol for the Open-Source Value Project Major Depressive Disorder Model from December 12, 2021, through January 25, 2022. The draft model protocol outlines the technical specifications and data sources that will guide the model development.

“IVI appreciates the commenters’ thoughtful and constructive feedback and is confident that their insights will ensure that we develop a relevant and useful model that will help advance the science of value assessment and improve decision-making about the range of treatment options for major depressive disorder,” stated Richard Chapman, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, IVI.

IVI received formal comments from individuals and organizations, as well as additional feedback from the IVI MDD Advisory Group, a multi-stakeholder body that has informed IVI’s work since inception of the project. Overall, recommendations addressed:

  • Using real-world data and real-world evidence to inform the model specifications (e.g., assumptions, inputs)
  • Testing how patient preference data from the University of Maryland Patient-Driven Values in Healthcare Evaluation (PAVE) Center collaboration will impact the model insights
  • Including a wider range of clinical and economic outcomes that are of importance to patients and decision-makers (e.g., caregiver burden, duration of remission)
  • Suggesting a variety of data sources and data partners to fill in data gaps

To read the full summary of comments, click here.

About the Innovation and Value Initiative
The Innovation and Value Initiative is an independent, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit research organization dedicated to advancing the science and improving the practice of value assessment through development of novel methods and the creation and application of enhanced value assessment models to support local decision-making needs in healthcare.

Communications Contact: Tiffany Huth, (202) 487-8057, tiffany.huth@thevalueinitiative.org