Innovative Payment Mechanisms for High-Cost Medical Devices in Latin America: Experience in Designing Outcome Protection Programs in the Region

<b>Introduction and Objectives</b>: Risk-sharing agreements (RSAs) have emerged as a key strategy for financing high-cost medical technologies while ensuring financial sustainability. These payment mechanisms mitigate clinical and financial uncertainties, optimizing pricing and reimbursement decisions. Despite their widespread adoption globally, Latin America has reported limited implementation, particularly for high-cost medical devices. This study aims to share insights from designing RSAs in the form of Outcome Protection Programs (OPPs) for medical devices in Latin America from the perspective of a medical devices company. <b>Methods</b>: The report follows a structured approach, defining key OPP dimensions: payment base, access criteria, pricing schemes, risk assessment, and performance incentives. Risks were categorized as financial, clinical, and operational. The framework applied principles from prior models, emphasizing negotiation, program design, implementation, and evaluation. A multidisciplinary task force analyzed patient needs, provider motivations, and payer constraints to ensure alignment with health system priorities. <b>Results</b>: Over two semesters, a panel of seven experts from the manufacturer designed <i>n</i> = 105 innovative payment programs implemented in Argentina (<i>n</i> = 7), Brazil (<i>n</i> = 7), Colombia (<i>n</i> = 75), Mexico (<i>n</i> = 9), Panama (<i>n</i> = 4), and Puerto Rico (<i>n</i> = 3). The programs targeted eight high-burden conditions, including Coronary Artery Disease, atrial fibrillation, Heart Failure, and post-implantation arrhythmias, among others. Private providers accounted for 80% of experiences. Challenges include clinical inertia and operational complexities, necessitating structured training and monitoring mechanisms. <b>Conclusions</b>: Outcome Protection Programs offer a viable and practical risk-sharing approach to financing high-cost medical devices in Latin America. Their implementation requires careful stakeholder alignment, clear eligibility criteria and endpoints, and robust monitoring frameworks. These findings contribute to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable healthcare financing, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches in resource-constrained settings.