Bridge the Gap /
Proving the Value of Healthcare Innovation
November 17, 2009 | Washington, DC

Conference Overview /

Healthcare technologies, including drugs, devices, and diagnostics, have improved the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases.  Billions of dollars are spent annually on research and development, clinical trials, and marketing to develop and sell new healthcare products.  Those investment decisions balance the demands of patients and providers for new products against the pressures to deliver a positive return on investment and fulfill organizational missions.

Advances in medical technology are widely cited as a source of growth in healthcare costs.  Countries around the world have grappled with the issue of providing healthcare to all citizens using a finite set of resources.  Policymakers decide upon the appropriate value of innovation, either directly or indirectly, in making decisions about how to allocate healthcare resources. 

Some observers maintain that the U.S. market subsidizes innovations in healthcare technology that benefit patients across the globe.  But more than ever, domestic healthcare technology companies must justify their investment decisions to their shareholders to access the capital they need.  Likewise, new emphasis on, and funding for, comparative effectiveness research has the potential to reshape markets for a wide range of healthcare technologies.  Particularly if combined with significant payment reforms, these forces will push manufacturers of drugs, devices, diagnostics, and equipment to rethink their strategies for developing new products. 

Avalere Health’s symposium, Bridge the Gap / Proving the Value of Healthcare Innovation, will discuss how key components of heath reform could affect the future pace of healthcare innovation in the U.S. and globally.  Will these developments hamper innovation or serve as a catalyst for advancement?  Hear how policymakers are balancing desires for an efficient healthcare system with patients’ demands for new technologies, and learn how you can inform their decisions.

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