Health Economics Outcomes Research (HEOR): STRATEGIC VALUE, REAL WORLD EVIDENCE, MACHINE LEARNING, MARKET ACCESS, FOCUS GROUP, VALUE BASED AGREEMENTS, BUDGET IMPACT MODEL, COST-EFFECTIVENESS, VALUE DOSSIERS…what do these words really mean? And what the heck is Health Economics Outcomes Research? Well remember how they taught us in pharmacy school that clinical trials are done to prove safety and efficacy? What happens after that? Lets say a drug doesn’t kill anyone and moderately works to decrease your raging blood pressure (due to all those caffeine drinks you take on a daily, yeah I’m looking at you). So what? What makes your drug different…what makes it desirable? Like the tv show the Bachelor, each eligible bachelor (medication) must show how they are truly unique and be able to portray the value that they bring to the table in order to be chosen [or the quality of life (QALY) increase haha…that one is for the HEOR nerds]. HEOR helps show how the drug is efficacious in the real world by using evidence generated outside the clinical trial to helping show payers what the impact your drug would have on the market. HEOR is like your third cousin, second removed from your dads side. You don’t remember their name or exactly what they do, but when you meet each other at that family reunion you realize how well you get along and how the family could not be complete without them.