# Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER)

## Overview
ICER is the most rigorous independent health technology assessment organization in the United States, conducting evidence-based evaluations of medical interventions and their cost-effectiveness.

## Timeline
- **2025-04-09** — Published white paper "Affordable Access to GLP-1 Obesity Medications: Strategies to Guide Market Action and Policy Solutions" in collaboration with Brown University, synthesizing literature and stakeholder interviews (PBMs, manufacturers, patient advocacy groups, benefit consultants, state/Medicaid experts)

## Significance
ICER's April 2025 GLP-1 white paper was criticized by the National Pharmaceutical Council for "prioritizing payers over patients," reflecting the structural tension between cost-effectiveness analysis and access equity. The white paper focuses on payer sustainability strategies rather than access expansion, documenting that self-insured employers saw >10x PMPM cost increases from January 2023 to December 2024.

## Related Work
A peer-reviewed version of the white paper was published as "Affordable access to GLP-1 obesity medications: strategies to guide market action and policy solutions in the US" (PMC12403326).