5 Trends to Watch This Year
Health policy evolves continuously. While current initiatives are moving into implementation, the next set of policy decisions is already taking shape. As we begin 2026, it’s worth reflecting on what the year ahead may mean for the HEOR community. We expect 2026 to be defined less by new legislation and more by how existing policy priorities are interpreted, implemented, and enforced—making implementation the primary driver of policy impact this year.
Based on current trends as of January 2026, these 5 developments are likely to shape the year ahead:
Drug Pricing Reform Will Advance Through Administrative Action.
With major legislative developments unlikely to happen, drug pricing policy will continue to evolve through executive agreements, demonstration models, and regulatory discretion. Most-favored-nation pricing initiatives, Medicare and Medicaid pilots, and ongoing price negotiations are likely to remain a priority for the current administration.
Healthcare Affordability Will Be a Top Priority.
Rising premiums, cost sharing, and out-of-pocket spending will remain central public concerns in 2026. As affordability pressures intensify across insurance markets, employers, and public programs, policy makers and stakeholders will face growing pressure to find alternatives to improve affordability. Join the healthcare affordability conversation at ISPOR 2026.
Value and Evidence Will Face Intensified Interest.
As negotiated drug prices take effect, attention will increasingly focus on whether pricing outcomes align with clinical benefit and broader concepts of value. Discussions around cost-effectiveness, alternative value metrics, and transparency in decision-making are likely to intensify as policy priorities evolve.
Global Investment in Innovation Will Continue to Rebalance.
In response to US drug pricing policies, shifting investment patterns by other countries and cross-border competition may reshape where biomedical innovation occurs, how it is financed, and which markets emerge as early launch hubs, with important implications for global access and evidence generation. US policy efforts will stay focused on domestic manufacturing and supply-chain resilience, reflecting a broader push to reshore drug production as a strategic priority.
Artificial Intelligence Will Begin to Shape Regulatory and Consumer Experiences.
AI is already transforming research and clinical workflows, but 2026 will be about its regulatory and consumer relevance. Federal agencies will look to integrate AI into regulatory science, review processes, and oversight, while policy makers and other stakeholders assess its potential to improve affordability, health system navigation, and trust, along with how it should be regulated.