How the Federal Government Is Fostering Development of Innovative Medical Technologies

The Midwest Personalized Health Framework Working Group, a LifeScience Alley initiative, met December 11 in the Faegre & Benson LLP Minneapolis office.

The morning session featured presentations by senior government health officials—including HHS Deputy Secretary Tevi D. Troy—on important and controversial health care innovation topics.

Remarks and discussion covered issues such as scope and role of government in the developing health care system, including the changing role of CMS in the reimbursement process. Views were also exchanged on means by which the federal government can assist companies involved in the health care innovation economy, both financially and through delivery of basic and clinical research assistance.

Other panelists included:

• Kerry N. Weems, acting administrator, CMS
• Douglas Throckmorton, deputy director, FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
• Jean R. Slutsky, director, AHRO Center for Outcomes and Evidence
• Alan Guttmacher, acting director, NIH National Human Genome Research Institute

The afternoon session featured executives from private payer organizations who discussed considerations in determining which new diagnostics and therapies to cover. Panelists included:

• Patrick Courneya, M.D., medical director, HealthPartners
• Charles Fazio, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Medica Health Plan
• John Frederick, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer, Preferred One Administrative Services

Faegre & Benson is a founding sponsor of the Midwest Personalized Health Framework, a LifeScience Alley initiative.