Congress’ Misguided Plan to Ban QALYs

Congress’s proposed ban on the use of quality‑adjusted life‑years (QALYs) and “similar measures” in federal health programs is based on a misunderstanding of how these tools are used and would not protect patients from discrimination. Instead, such a ban would undermine comparative‑effectiveness analysis, weaken Medicare drug price negotiations, and ultimately preserve high drug prices that restrict patient access.