Open Source Models

• Define the issues surrounding open source models
• Improve model transparency, updating, idea exchange, currency, and policy development
• Provide a centralized platform to facilitate discussion and dissemination of information on the topic of open source models

The world is moving towards more openness, sharing, and collaboration. There has been a marked growth in open science; however, there is currently no efficient process for creating, sharing, evaluating, and updating health economic models. This situation can result in the expensive re-creation of existing models or the inappropriate use of outdated models. Moreover, models are often not updated at all. To address these issues, certain institutions have begun to promote and encourage access to open source models and some journals make models available to reviewers upon their request. However, it is unclear how these various groups will encourage widespread model openness and transparency in a repository or otherwise, given intellectual property (IP) rights, costs to initiate and sustain, and legal, information technology, and other issues surrounding such an endeavor. This Special Interest Group has therefore been founded to address these and other challenges and aspects related to the concept of open source models.