ISSUE: Over the last 20 years three major themes have dominated the content of Value in Health. First, many papers have discussed the nature of ‘value’ in health and health care, including the role of patient-reported outcomes, the construction and use of the quality-adjusted life-year and the methods and application of the various preference-based measures. Secondly, decision-analytic modeling has been the predominant methodology in the empirical studies published in the journal. There has been debate about alternative types of models, whether particular models are fit for purpose in decision-making and the need for more validation and transparency in modeling. Thirdly, several papers have explored the use of health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) in the broader context of health technology assessment (HTA) and comparative effectiveness research. Papers have compared and contrasted the applications of HEOR in different decision-making contexts, its implications for the pricing and reimbursement of health technologies, and the implications for patient access.

OVERVIEW: The speakers in this session, who have all been Editors-in-Chief of Value in Health, will discuss how these themes have evolved over the years, which issues have been resolved and which not. More importantly, they will give their views on which issues are likely to have more prominence in the future and whether new themes will emerge. C. Daniel Mullins will address the theme of the nature of value in health, Joel Hay will address the theme of decision-analytic modeling in health and health care and Josephine Mauskopf will address the theme of HEOR in the broader context of HTA and comparative effectiveness research. In the general discussion there will be opportunities for members of the audience to share their views on the likely directions for HEOR in the future.