MedCAC meets on Bayesian methods
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC) will meet June 17 at CMS headquarters in Baltimore to discuss the application of Bayesian statistical analysis methods to the development of evidence for coverage decisions. The meeting will introduce Bayesian concepts, compare Bayesian and frequentist statistical approaches, and provide case examples of Bayesian meta-analyses. CMS recently released a 1technology assessment, titled "Use of Bayesian Techniques in Randomized Clinical Trials: A CMS Case Study." The document provides a basic tutorial on Bayesian statistics and a summary of published research on how Bayesian techniques "can modify inferences that affect policy-level decision making." FDA issued a 2draft guidance on Bayesian analysis in clinical trials in 2006