The Netherlands is testing a "no cure, no pay" reimbursement model for expensive cancer drugs, according to Medscape.
Four things to know:
1. Under the payment model, certain expensive cancer drugs will only be reimbursed if they are effective after a 16-week period.
2. The payment model pilot program was designed by Dutch oncologists, researchers at the Netherlands Care Institute and health insurers. It is supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
3. Under the pilot program, 135 patients with rare MSI-H tumors will receive the immunotherapy nivolumab, paid for by Bristol-Myers, for 16 weeks. For every patient with tumor shrinkage or no disease progression, the drugmaker will be able to claim reimbursement. The drugmaker won't be reimbursed for patients who do not respond to the treatment.
4. The country hopes that the model will give patients better access to expensive medications.
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