Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NICE plans to broaden its application of the non-reference discount rate to the single technology appraisal pathway.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) standard methodology is to apply a discount rate of 3.5% but NICE’s committees have flexibility to apply a non-reference discount rate of 1.5% in defined exceptional circumstances. NICE has explored whether there is a case for changing the approach to discounting in the development of its technology appraisal recommendations as part of the ongoing methods and processes review. NICE expects to consult on a draft programme in the summer, with implementation of the changes from early 2022.