ISSUE: The public availability of value assessments to assist with reimbursement decision making is not new; for over 10 years, NICE, PBAC, CADTH and other HTA organizations have released reports documenting reimbursement recommendations. But often these reviews are completed well after formulary decisions are made in the US and other countries early in the product launch sequence. The recent release of independent value assessments within the US marks a significant departure. What remains unknown is how these reports will impact reimbursement and value assessment trends in the US and elsewhere.  OVERVIEW: Publication of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) reports and other value assessments creates a shift in the widespread availability of independent economic evidence shortly after FDA product approval. These reports have the potential to contribute to the US debate surrounding necessary trade-offs between clinical benefit and cost of care. How will US payers utilize these new resources and will they impact price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies? Does the timing of these reports mean they have the potential to create a global ripple effect? Will there be greater harmonization in reimbursement decisions? Will they assist countries with limited HTA capacity in undertaking value assessments? This session will review the advantages, obstacles and potential limitations of using independent reports in healthcare decision making, both in the US and globally.