HEOR · Plain-English Guide
What Is HEOR?
HEOR stands for health economics and outcomes research. In plain terms, it is how we work out whether a treatment truly works and whether it is worth its cost.
The people who do this work gather each year at RWE Connect 2026 in Boston.
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The simple answer
HEOR in One Sentence
HEOR is the study of whether a medical treatment works in the real world and whether it is worth what it costs, so that payers, doctors and companies can make better-informed decisions.
The letters stand for health economics (the cost and value side) and outcomes research (the real-world results side). Put them together and you have a full picture of a treatment’s worth. For the fuller version, see the complete HEOR guide.
In plain english
The Questions HEOR Answers
Strip away the jargon and HEOR is really about answering three simple questions about any treatment.
Why it matters
Why HEOR Is Important
HEOR might sound technical, but its purpose is very practical: making sure good treatments reach patients and money is well spent.
The people
Who Does HEOR
HEOR is a team effort spanning the whole healthcare system, from the companies that make treatments to the people who pay for and deliver them.
The glossary
Key HEOR Terms, Explained Simply
A few terms come up again and again in HEOR. Here they are in plain English.
The bigger picture
Why HEOR Is Growing
HEOR has moved from a niche discipline to a central part of healthcare decision-making. A few forces explain why, and they are all 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 work in and around HEOR.
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 HEOR Further
Ready to go deeper? These guides build on the basics.
Sponsor RWE Connect 2026
Meet the HEOR Community in Boston
Whether you are new to HEOR or lead a team, RWE Connect 2026 brings the field together: 150+ attendees, around 60% at Director or VP level and above.
RWE Connect 2026
Get the RWE Pipeline Report 2026
A clear, jargon-light look at the evidence trends shaping healthcare value, then meet the community in Boston.
- What HEOR is doing in 2026
- Why real-world evidence matters
- Where value assessment is heading
Free. Instant download. No obligation.
What Is HEOR: Common Questions
What is HEOR?
HEOR stands for health economics and outcomes research. In plain terms, it is the study of whether a medical treatment works in the real world and whether it is worth what it costs, so that payers, doctors and companies can make better decisions.
What does HEOR stand for?
HEOR stands for health economics and outcomes research. Health economics looks at cost and value, and outcomes research looks at the real-world results of treatment.
What does HEOR do in simple terms?
HEOR gathers evidence on how well treatments work in everyday practice and how much value they deliver for the money, then uses it to inform pricing, coverage and treatment decisions.
Why is HEOR important?
Healthcare budgets are limited, so payers need to know a treatment is worth funding. HEOR provides the value evidence that helps get effective treatments to the patients who need them.
What is a QALY?
A quality-adjusted life year, or QALY, is a way of measuring the value of a treatment by combining how much longer someone lives with how good that life is.
What is the difference between HEOR and clinical research?
Clinical research tests whether a treatment is safe and works under controlled conditions. HEOR looks at how it performs in the real world and whether it delivers value for the cost.
Who works in HEOR?
HEOR teams include health economists, outcomes researchers, epidemiologists and statisticians, working in pharmaceutical and device companies, payers, HTA bodies, universities and specialist consultancies.
Is HEOR the same as health economics?
Not quite. Health economics is one half of HEOR, focused on cost and value. The other half, outcomes research, focuses on real-world results. HEOR combines both.
How do you get into HEOR?
Many people enter HEOR from backgrounds in health economics, epidemiology, pharmacy, statistics or public health, often with a postgraduate qualification, then build experience in evidence generation and value assessment.
How does real-world evidence relate to HEOR?
Real-world evidence is the data that shows how treatments perform in everyday practice. It has become one of the main sources of evidence that HEOR relies on.
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.
