October 5, 2020 -- Public reluctance to support mass immunization against COVID-19 should serve as an alarm for the United States to improve its overall infrastructure for vaccination and build the public health resilience that is clearly lacking now, write Warring Wendy and Tom Hubbard of NEHI.

NEHI’s Innovators in Health Awards recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions in health and health care and inspired the community with their vision and achievements. On October 6, 2020 NEHI honored Dr. Rebekah Gee (LSU Health Care Services), Dr. John Maraganore (Alnylam) and Dr. Myechia-Minter Jordan (DentaQuest).

Following the awards program, NEHI held a panel discussion on one of today's most pressing issues: racial inequity in health care and health outcomes.

Outcomes-based contracts and other value-based arrangements (“VBAs”) between pharmaceutical manufacturers and health care payers have become a “tool in the payment toolbox.” VBAs are being employed by payers in Massachusetts and elsewhere to negotiate payments for highly novel pharmaceuticals such as gene therapies, but payers and manufacturers throughout the country are experimenting with VBAs for chronic disease medications as well.

What are the implications for Massachusetts? NEHI’s October 27th briefing will review the status of VBAs in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and lessons learned that may prove useful when Massachusetts state government resumes deliberation on pharmaceutical pricing and payment, largely suspended since the COVID-19 outbreak.