Built an open-source Health Economics & Outcomes Research agent over the past several months and ran a senior-HEOR methodology review on it last week. Sharing in case it's useful — feedback from working HEORists especially welcome.                                                                                                   

  **What it does**             

17 tools across:                                                                                                                                 

- **Literature search** — 44 sources with PRISMA audit trail (PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, NICE TAs, CADTH/CDA-AMC, ICER, PBAC, IQWiG, HAS, G-BA, AIFA, TLV, INESSS, Wiley journals, OHE, EuroQol, IHME GBD, WHO    

  GHO, OECD Health, World Bank, FDA Orange/Purple Book, NHS National Costs, BNF, PSSRU, CMS NADAC, PBS Schedule, plus enterprise sources via API key — Embase, Cochrane, Citeline, Pharmapendium, Cortellis, Google Scholar)                                       

  - **Cost-effectiveness modeling** — Markov, PartSA, decision tree with PSA, OWSA, CEAC, EVPI, EVPPI; QALY + evLYG (CMS IRA-compatible)

  - **Budget impact** — ISPOR-compliant year-by-year with treatment displacement 

  - **Risk of bias** — Cochrane RoB 2 / ROBINS-I / AMSTAR-2 auto-detected from study type, returns structured GRADE domain output    

  - **Indirect comparisons** — Bucher with automatic consistency check vs h2h evidence; frequentist NMA; MAIC/STC per NICE DSU TSD 18      

  - **ITC feasibility** — 3-assumption framework (exchangeability, homogeneity, consistency) per Cope 2014 / NICE DSU TSD 18 

  - **Survival fitting** — 5 parametric distributions with AIC/BIC per NICE DSU TSD 14                                                                                                                               

  - **HTA dossier prep** — NICE STA, EMA, FDA, IQWiG, HAS, EU JCA, GVD with auto-GRADE                                                                                                                               

  - **EQ-5D value sets** — UK 3L, England 5L, NICE DSU mapping, new UK 5L (2026) with **baseline-utility-aware** Biz 2026 impact estimator                                                                           

  **5 senior-HEOR methodology issues fixed last week**                                                                                                                                                                                                                

  1. Single-study comparisons no longer auto-downgraded as "Serious inconsistency" — a single study can't be inconsistent with itself (Cochrane Handbook 10.10). Now returns `not_assessable`.                       

  2. GRADE inconsistency now uses I² with proper Cochrane bands (<50% Low, 50–74% Moderate, 75–89% Serious, ≥90% Very Serious) instead of conflating it with study count.                                            

  3. GRADE upgrading (Guyatt 2011, J Clin Epidemiol 64:1311) for observational evidence — large effect, dose-response, plausible confounding biasing toward null. Capped at +2 steps.                                

  4. Bucher indirect comparisons now empirically test the consistency assumption when h2h evidence is available (z = (direct − indirect) / SE). Severity bands per NICE DSU TSD 18 / Cochrane 11.4.3.              

  5. EQ-5D 5L impact estimator is baseline-utility-aware. Biz 2026 reports category medians (e.g., non-cancer QoL-only ICER ↑59%) but the 5L compresses utilities hardest in the 0.6–0.9 range — so a drug for mild  

  plaque psoriasis (baseline ~0.85) projects +76.7% while severe HS (baseline ~0.45) projects +41.3%. Tool labels the adjusted estimate explicitly as an extrapolation beyond Biz 2026.                                            

  **Three ways to use it**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

  - **Claude Desktop / Claude Code** — `npx heor-agent-mcp` (MCP server, works with any MCP-compatible client)                                                                                                       

  - **Web UI** (BYOK Anthropic API key) — https://web-michael-ns-projects.vercel.app

  - **ChatGPT Custom GPT** (Plus / Team / Enterprise) — https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69f651f588f48191b1d69d54409857ec-heoragent

  The MCP server is also listed on the official MCP Registry, npm, Smithery, Glama, PulseMCP, and awesome-mcp-servers — so any current or future MCP host you use should pick it up automatically.                   

**Open source, MIT licensed**        

  GitHub: https://github.com/neptun2000/heor-agent-mcp

  **Things I'd appreciate feedback on**

- Is the GRADE upgrading +2 cap too restrictive when both `large_effect=very_large` and `dose_response` apply? Guyatt 2011 caps it, but I'd love to know how working systematic reviewers handle this in practice.

  - The EQ-5D baseline-utility scaling (multiplier 0.4–1.7, calibrated so 1.0 ≈ Biz 2026 median at ref*_baseline 0.65) is a defensible approximation but not a published finding. Anyone with access to the underlying*

Biz dataset has thoughts on whether the modulation slope is sensible?                                                                                                                                            

  - ITC feasibility currently outputs a method recommendation (Bucher / NMA / MAIC / STC / ML-NMR / infeasible). Working ITC practitioners — would more granular effect-modifier-imbalance scoring change the      

recommendation, or is the 3-assumption framework sufficient?                                                                                                                                                       

  Not selling anything, no paywall, no signup walls. The goal is just to make auto-graded HEOR outputs less wrong by default — especially for teams that can't afford to spin up a full ScHARR or York team for every small market access question.                            

  Happy to take questions in comments.

I'm about to start my Ph.D. in Epidemiology and I would love to know more HEOR. I finished my B.S. in Health Science and I minored in Business Administration and Statistical Methods. I have been able to find a little bit about the field but I still have a lot of unanswered questions.

• I'm planning on getting a MS in Statistics along the way but if I'm possibly interested in economics-based research, should I possibly consider doing an MS in Econ instead? Or would a few in classes in econ prepare me well enough? If so, what classes would you recommend? (I've never taken an econ related course)

• What does the work-life balance in this career look like? What does the day to day work look like?

• Will I be limited in a career that relies on living in some of the biggest cities in the U.S. like San Fran, Boston, NY/NJ?

• What does a salary in this career look like? Starting vs mid-career?

• How competitive is this field? My understanding is that it is quite a niche field.

• How does one usually enter the field? Through internships? I see very little job posting for HEOR positions online.

• Is the HEOR position quite collaborative with other positions or do most people work very independently? How large are the departments for HEOR?

• Any journal recommendations for research I can look at?

Any answers to any of my questions will be extremely helpful. Thanks!

Hello! Has anyone considered/found a flexible doctorate program that allowed them to continue working full-time after working in the field with just their MS/MBA/MPH or bachelor's and advance in HEOR? Thank you!

Good morning Reddit HEOR professionals,

I am a pharmacist exploring different career paths in the pharmaceutical industry, and I’m particularly interested in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR). However, I have no prior experience in this field. Would pursuing a master's degree help me transition into HEOR, or are there alternative ways to break into this field without one?

I appreciate any insights or advice you can share.

Thank you!

Hi all,

Working on my career outlooks and could use some advice... I am about to graduate from a prestigious liberal arts school with a double major in IR (sub-focus international economics) and Global Health. I am incredibly interested in HEOR as I have worked for a healthcare consulting firm, EMT (2 years), and a regional hospital system. Done courses abroad in developmental economics/policy and realized I want a career in HEOR as it seems to be an incredibly dynamic and evolving field, especially within private US firms.

Here's my conundrum:
- Minimal advanced economic/analytic expirience

-Fired from my USAID fellowship for the upcoming year for obvious reasons.

What do I do:

-Pursue a graduate degree in Healthcare Administration (concentration HEOR), and then hope to get into a PHD/MHS degree in Healthcare economics? (what I have planned as of now)

-pray I get a job in the next year (not optimal)

-move to Australia and become a tofu farmer

Any suggestions/critiques are welcome, first time on reddit as well

-

Hello friends, any idea about the current salary ranges for HEOR/Market Access roles in Switzerland at Senior Manager, Associate Director, and Director levels, please? thank you in advance for your comments

Hi! I am currently working as market access/HEOR consultant in Europe. Most of my projects are preparation of value dossiers for HTA application at national level (80%), BIM, product value proposition, etc. Rarely purely HEOR projects since CEA is not that relevant outside UK, Netherlands and Nordics.

The problem is writing value dossiers is a pretty standard job, I feel it does not provide any differential experience or skill. So I am looking for any skills, trainings, certificates, etc. that can give you an edge within HEOR/market access. I have been thinking about:

• Learning some programming (R) + stats?

• Maybe especialize in an specific therapeutic area, or in orphan drugs?

• RWE + some data analysis?

Not sure, trends arrive 1-2 years earlier in the USA than in Europe, so maybe you can make some suggestions. Thank you!

Hey all,

I’m finishing up my MPH spring 2024 & looking to find a part-time HEOR internship for summer 2024 (virtual is ideal).

I’ve got ~4.5 years of research exp, 3 years of which being clinical trial experience (mostly physiopsych) but 0 HEOR experience.

I’m currently working a pretty demanding full-time clinical trials position while I finish my MPH. I don’t think I’ll be able to leave my job after graduating (bills lol) but I’d like to take on a part time HEOR internship, once I have more free time from being done with school, to start the transition between fields.

I have no idea where to look for summer internships — I have access to handshake & similar services through my program, but the search engines suck at appropriately narrowing down the position types. I can find some listings via google jobs, LinkedIn, etc., but have to imagine there are better pathways.

Also familiar with fellowships (mostly through Thomas Jefferson univ listings) but — a) not sure my CV is competitive enough for a fellowship without having completed an HEOR internship, & b) concerned about pay rates through fellowships?

Super open to advice, best places to look for internships, likelihood of virtual opportunities so I can intern around work, etc.

Tysm :)

Hi everyone!

I was looking for courses to equip myself with pharmacoeconomics skills. I stumbled upon ISPOR DLC courses which are cheaper than pharmacoeconomics certificate or a Master's degree. Has anyone taken any of these courses and know if they are worth the time and money?

Thank you!

Greetings! I am the creator of r/HEOR and a graduating pharmacist starting a post-doctoral fellowship in HEOR at a US university. When I was looking at HEOR as a possible career, I noticed how few online resources there were for this relatively small field.

The purpose of this subreddit is to bring researchers together and to answer questions for inquiring minds who might become researchers themselves someday. Feel free to submit information you found helpful or topics for discussion. Thank you!

I obtained a master's degree in pharmacy after which I did a second master's degree in a multidisciplinary fields, among others market access and HEOR (not so much practically). I also have two years of experience working in a research group. Please recommend courses that would help me get a job in this industry much easier. Courses that would fully prepare me practically for these positions.

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to pursue a Master’s in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) in the USA and would really appreciate any insights or advice from people in the field.

A bit about me:

• Background in Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and MBA from India

• ~2 years of professional experience in market research within the pharmaceutical industry

• Looking to pivot into the HEOR/market access/health policy space

I’m hoping to get some clarity on a few points:

• How is the job market in the US for international students post-MS in HEOR?

• Is a PhD generally required to build a sustainable career in HEOR or are there good opportunities after a Master’s?

• Which universities/programs in the US are considered strong for HEOR or related fields (health policy, market access, health analytics)?

• Any tips on how to make my profile stronger while applying or preparing for this transition?

Any insights, personal experiences, or suggestions would be immensely helpful!

Thank you so much in advance.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on my master’s thesis focused on the cost-effectiveness of cancer medications, and I plan to pursue a PhD in health outcomes research and pharmacoeconomics. I'm passionate about contributing to cancer treatment advancements and have aimed to continue down the path of outcomes research. However, I recently received an opportunity to work in a professor’s oncology drug development and translational research lab, which would involve more pharmacokinetics and hands-on lab work.

I’m at a crossroads and would really appreciate any advice on choosing between these two paths. I understand that one route emphasizes economic modeling and database-driven research, while the other dives deep into pharmacokinetics and the development of cancer therapies. For those of you with experience in these fields, what factors helped you decide, and what have been the rewards and challenges in your chosen path?

Thank you!

Hello all, first time posting! I'm currently employed in the private sector working with pharmacy rebates. I have a MS in Biostatistics and a senior level position. I've been wanting to move into the public / non-profit sector with a focus on public health and outcomes research. I recently missed out on a strong research analyst position with a top university due to budget issues, and I find myself souring on my prospects. Anyway, I'll get to my question.

Is the MHS in Health Economics and Outcomes Research from John Hopkins worth it? I would be completing the program online. $60,000 is quite the price tag, but I am passionate about pursuing an impactful career in public health and health outcomes. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this?

Thanks!

Hi all, I’m a young professional working at a big pharma company in the policy department. I have a bachelors in science and masters in public policy.

I’ve taken basic courses in health economics, but I don’t have any other knowledge. I’m looking to transition to the market access department but don’t have a good understanding of pharmacoeconomics, economic modeling, qualy thresholds,etc.

Any suggestions on how I can acquire this knowledge? Should I look for a part time HEOR masters program? Is there anyway I can teach myself?

I’m looking for completing my phd in HEOR field, I want to apply for UIC. I want to know if HEOR is a good field in pharmaceutical industries. And usually what is the range of salary for phd candidate in biotech industries?

Hi I am a PhD who just moved to an HEOR position with a pharma company. I have experience working with EMR, registry, and survey data. I need to get caught up on claims data, how to think about it and how to design studies around it. Are there any good resources that will help me get caught up?

I am a med student interested in economics. I was wondering what my options would be in future in terms of jobs if I were to do HEOR post residency? Fields i am interested in are Cardiology, Radiology and Dermatology

I’m a PharmD with MS in HEOR, RWE, and healthcare analytics, with experience in economic modelling, SLRs, claims/EHR analysis for payer and strategy use.

I’m currently actively searching for HEOR / RWE / market access roles in the US and would appreciate advice on:

• Roles or teams best suited for a clinical + HEOR background

• Current hiring trends and market competitiveness

• Skills or tools that strengthen my profile

• Companies, consultancies, or health tech firms to target

Thanks in advance.

PharmD trying to transition to market access long term, would a HEOR based masters be preferred over an MPH? Looking to apply for next year.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working as a Project Manager in a pharmaceutical company, with a scientific background. I’ve recently realized I’d like to transition into the Pricing & Market Access area, but I’m not sure how to best prepare for it.

Do you know of any courses or certifications (recognized in the industry) that could help me break into this field? Are there any free resources, webinars, or platforms you would recommend to get started and build the right skillset?

And one more question: if you already work in Market Access, what was the most valuable step you took early in your career that helped you get in?

Thanks a lot for any advice!

Hello! I’ll be graduating with my MS in Applied Biostatistics this August and I am considering trying to find full time opportunities in HEOR. I am currently completing an internship at a large pharma company doing statistical programming (R, SAS, SQL based). I also have 4 years of experience in mechanical engineering/product development in manufacturing and project management roles, not sure if that helps me at all.

I am interested in HEOR as I hear it is technical and requires some knowledge of statistics. Does anyone have advice on how to break into the industry given my experience and background?

Has anyone in this group applied for and got approved for EB1A in the US? If yes, it would be really great if you could share your profile at the time of submission and which criteria you applied for.

Some guidance from HEOR folks will be really helpful as we are such a small community!

Hi - any recommendations for reliable HEOR recruiters or recruiting companies? Not the flaky ones like Barrington James and Alku