Managed Entry Agreements (MEAs): A Guide for Healthcare Professionals
In today`s healthcare industry, the cost of medications and treatments have become a major concern for both healthcare providers and patients. Managed entry agreements (MEAs) have become an increasingly popular tool in managing the cost of medications while ensuring patient access to innovative therapies. This article provides an overview of MEAs and their implications for healthcare professionals.
What are managed entry agreements?
Managed entry agreements (MEAs), also known as risk-sharing agreements, are contractual agreements between pharmaceutical companies, payers, and other stakeholders that aim to manage the financial risk associated with new and expensive therapies. The goal of MEAs is to ensure that patients have access to innovative therapies while ensuring that payers can manage the financial burden of these treatments.
MEAs are utilized to manage the uncertainty surrounding the real-world effectiveness and value of new treatments. They are typically used for drugs that have been granted conditional marketing authorization or are in the early stages of launch. These agreements allow payers to offer coverage for these treatments while collecting data on their real-world effectiveness and value.
Types of managed entry agreements
There are several types of MEAs that can be used to manage the financial risk of new treatments. These include:
1. Payment by results (PbR): This is an agreement that links the payment for a treatment to the outcomes achieved by the patient. For example, if a treatment does not achieve the desired outcome, the cost of the treatment would be reduced.
2. Coverage with evidence development (CED): This is an agreement that requires the collection of real-world data to assess the effectiveness and value of a treatment. Treatment coverage is dependent on the availability of data demonstrating the real-world effectiveness and value of the treatment.
3. Discounted pricing agreements: These agreements involve negotiating a lower price for a treatment in exchange for increased volume or exclusivity.
4. Risk-sharing agreements: These agreements provide financial protection to payers by agreeing to share the financial burden associated with the uncertainty surrounding the real-world effectiveness and value of a treatment.
Implications for healthcare professionals
MEAs have become an important tool for healthcare professionals in managing the cost of medications and treatments. These agreements can help to ensure that patients have access to innovative therapies while ensuring that payers can manage the financial burden of these treatments.
Healthcare professionals should be aware of the different types of MEAs and their implications for patient care. They should also be aware of the potential impact on patient access to treatments and the importance of collecting real-world data to demonstrate the effectiveness and value of new therapies.
In conclusion, managed entry agreements are an important tool in managing the financial risk associated with new and expensive therapies. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the different types of MEAs and their implications for patient care. By understanding these agreements and the importance of collecting real-world data, healthcare professionals can ensure that patients have access to the innovative treatments they need while managing the financial burden associated with these treatments.