Segment 5: The Role of Companion Diagnostics/The Effect of New Payment Models

In the final segment, panelists examine the use of companion diagnostics to determine proper patient utilization. Dr. Chernew asks if the required diagnostic testing is being appropriately used and if they are being covered by payers. Both Dr. Newcomer and Dr. Swain agree that there are no real limitations and it is standard for patients to get immunohistochemistry testing for HER-2. The panelists discuss their concern with the excessive cost in today’s healthcare system.

“We are going to have to do something to figure out how we take waste out of this system, how we remove those unnecessary things to allow some payment for drugs that make a difference and pharma has a responsibility to get their cost down,“ said Dr. Newcomer. “We have got to find a way to produce these drugs less expensively if we are going to continue to make them accessible to US patients.”to make them accessible to US patients.”