Research /

Avalere Health performs incisive and objective analytic research, focused on the intersection of business and policy, on behalf of a diverse customer base that includes healthcare companies, nonprofits, foundations, and government. Our research portfolio includes studies of top healthcare reform issues, including policies for reimbursement for new treatments and technologies, value-based payment, long-term care, and expansions of entitlement programs. Below is a sample of projects from our research portfolio.

SCAN Foundation
Long-Term Care --- an Essential Element of Healthcare Reform
This chart book examines the role of long-term care in broader healthcare reform efforts. Through original and secondary research, the authors focused on four key points: long-term care users constitute the majority of Medicaid spending; home health and hospice Medicare post-acute care services may fill-in for long-term care; Medicare and Medicaid spending for dual eligible beneficiaries is often uncoordinated; and a significant amount of long-term care has been financed privately. Researchers conclude that reform efforts should carefully consider the healthcare needs of the long-term care population as well as leveraging private financial resources in order to strengthen the long-term care system.

National Institute for Health Care Management
Getting to Value
This paper outlines four primary barriers to recognizing and rewarding value in the U.S. healthcare system. According to the authors, these four barriers – measuring value, capturing appropriate data, coordinating efforts, and rewarding system-wide improvements – will require extensive coordination among stakeholders and strong leadership from the federal government. The paper concludes with concrete recommendations for addressing these issues and promoting fair, objective, and patient-focused dialogue among stakeholders.

Chronic Diseases Cost Employers Billions Annually
The full report, “TrendWatch: Healthy People Are the Foundation for a Productive America,” is available for download.

Avalere Health Analyzes the Potential for Savings from Comparative Effectiveness Research
Avalere Health recently convened the group at its first-ever summit on health information – “The Power of Information/New Directions in Health System Reform” – as a way to further policy discussions centered on creating meaningful and more immediate systemic health reform. The summary of the Summit proceedings is available for download.

Avalere Evaluates Federal Initiatives to Coordinate Government Action on Health Issues
The Avalere report reviews current initiatives such as the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Office of the National Coordinator on Health Information Technology, as well as past efforts such as the White House Conference on Mental Health and the National Commission on Diabetes.

Models for Success: Avalere Identifies Best Practices to Include Patients and Physicians in Medical Comparative Effectiveness Research
A new report by Avalere Health identifies successful ways to integrate patient and clinician perspectives into the development of research agendas.