HEOR · Overview
Health Economics and Outcomes Research
Health economics and outcomes research, or HEOR, measures what a treatment is worth, joining two disciplines into one evidence field.
The people who generate and apply HEOR evidence come together at RWE Connect 2026 in Boston.
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The definition
What HEOR Is
Health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) is the field that measures the economic and clinical value of medical treatments. It answers two linked questions: how well does a treatment work in the real world, and is it worth what it costs?
HEOR sits between clinical evidence and the decisions that determine access, giving payers, HTA bodies and manufacturers a common language of value. It draws heavily on real-world evidence.
One field, two disciplines
The Two Halves of HEOR
The name says it plainly. HEOR joins health economics with outcomes research, each answering a different half of the value question.
Health Economics
- Studies costs and value
- Cost-effectiveness and budget impact
- Economic modeling and QALYs
- Answers: is it worth the money?
Outcomes Research
- Studies real-world results
- Effectiveness and quality of life
- Patient-reported and comparative outcomes
- Answers: how well does it work?
Go deeper on each half: health economics and outcomes research.
The economics half
What Health Economics Covers
Health economics puts a value on treatment, translating health benefits into the language of cost and affordability.
The outcomes half
What Outcomes Research Covers
Outcomes research measures what actually happens to patients, the evidence of whether a treatment delivers in practice.
Why it matters
Where HEOR Evidence Is Used
HEOR is not academic for its own sake. Its evidence flows directly into the decisions that determine whether a treatment reaches patients.
The state of the field
The State of HEOR in 2026
HEOR is being reshaped by real-world data, new technology and changing payer expectations. These are the forces on the agenda at RWE Connect 2026.
Who is in the room
Who Attends RWE Connect 2026
A senior, focused audience of the people who generate and apply HEOR evidence.
Seniority is confirmed: 150+ attendees, around 60% at Director or VP level and above. The functional mix shown is indicative; confirmed registration splits are shared with sponsors from the live delegate list.
Explore
Explore Related Topics
HEOR connects the evidence, economics and access sides of the RWE ecosystem.
Sponsor RWE Connect 2026
Meet the HEOR Community in Boston
The teams that build and use HEOR evidence gather at RWE Connect 2026: 150+ attendees, around 60% at Director or VP level and above.
RWE Connect 2026
Get the RWE Pipeline Report 2026
See the evidence trends reshaping how value is measured and funded, then meet the HEOR community in Boston.
- How RWE is changing HEOR
- What payers now expect from evidence
- Where value assessment is heading
Free. Instant download. No obligation.
HEOR: Common Questions
What is health economics and outcomes research?
Health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) is the field that measures the economic and clinical value of medical treatments, combining health economics with outcomes research to inform pricing, reimbursement and access decisions.
What does HEOR stand for?
HEOR stands for health economics and outcomes research, two connected disciplines that together evaluate the value a treatment delivers.
What is the difference between health economics and outcomes research?
Health economics studies the costs and value of treatments, such as cost-effectiveness and budget impact. Outcomes research studies the results treatments produce in the real world, such as effectiveness and quality of life. HEOR combines both.
What is health economics?
Health economics analyzes how resources are used in healthcare, including cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, budget impact and value for money.
What is outcomes research?
Outcomes research studies the end results of care, including real-world effectiveness, patient-reported outcomes, quality of life and comparative effectiveness.
How do health economics and outcomes research work together?
Outcomes research shows how well a treatment works in practice, and health economics translates that into value and cost terms. Together they build the evidence payers and HTA bodies need.
What is HEOR used for?
HEOR evidence supports HTA submissions, pricing and reimbursement, payer negotiations, formulary decisions, clinical guidelines, and product positioning.
Who uses HEOR?
Pharmaceutical and device companies, payers, HTA bodies, providers and academic researchers, supported by specialist HEOR consultancies.
What is a QALY?
A quality-adjusted life year (QALY) combines length and quality of life into a single measure, widely used in health economics to compare the value of treatments.
How does real-world evidence relate to HEOR?
Real-world evidence provides the effectiveness, safety and cost data that outcomes research and health economic models rely on, making it central to modern HEOR.
What is RWE Connect 2026?
RWE Connect 2026 is a two-day real-world evidence summit in Boston bringing together the RWE, HEOR and market access leaders who generate and apply real-world evidence, with 40+ speakers and 150+ attendees.
When and where is RWE Connect 2026?
14 to 15 October 2026 at the Hampton Inn by Hilton, Boston Seaport District, Boston, MA.
