NPC's Research Topics

Our research helps to inform many critical health care policy debates and supports our overall goal of achieving the best patient outcomes in the most efficient way possible.

NPC's Areas of Focus

Over the years, our areas of focus have evolved along with the changes in the health care environment and biopharmaceutical industry. NPC’s current research examines the most pressing topics related to real-world evidence, the optimal role and value of pharmaceuticals in emerging payment and delivery models, and biopharmaceutical and health system innovation.

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Health Spending

Health Spending

U.S. health care spending is continuing to increase due to a number of factors, including an aging population; structural, administrative, and process complexity in the health system; innovative methods for disease prevention; improved speed and accuracy of diagnoses; and adoption of novel treatments. Understanding what’s driving health spending can help policy-makers strike a balance between optimal patient care and incentives to sustain innovation and health system efficiencies. 

Learn more about health spending.
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value assessment computer

Value Assessment

The U.S. health care system is shifting from paying for the volume of services to the value of those services. While health care decision-makers are looking for ways to measure value, patients seek access to treatments that will improve their health and quality of life.

Learn more about value assessment.
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Alternative approach

Alternative Payment Models

Within efforts to address health care spending, novel approaches to paying for care are being adopted, but there is much to be learned about how and when they work, and the role of biopharmaceuticals in their success.  

Learn more about guiding practices & principles.
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Patient-Centered Care

Patient Centered Formulary & Benefit Design

Health benefit design plays a critical role in patient health, access to care, and larger health system costs. But health benefit design that only focuses narrowly on cost containment, without addressing patient needs or increased costs elsewhere, may come with unintended effects.

Learn more about patient-centered formulary & benefit design.
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Evidence for decision making

Evidence for Decision-Making

NPC research seeks to improve the generation and adoption of high-quality evidence to inform decision-making by policymakers, payers, providers and patients.

Learn about evidence for decision-making.
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Biopharma Innovation

Biopharmaceutical Innovation

It is important to foster an environment that sustains and enhances innovation to ensure the continued discovery and development of new medicines that improve patients’ health and their quality of life.

Learn about biopharmaceutical innovation.