Annual Conferences
Washington Health Economics Symposium (WHES)
Call for Papers: Now Open!
Submissions Deadline: August 1, 2026
Submit papers to: WHES@thehealnetwork.org
We are pleased to invite submissions for the 3rd Annual Washington Health Economics Symposium, to be held October 4-6, 2026, in Washington, DC, at the U.S. Capitol and The Morning Consult headquarters.
This national forum will highlight cutting-edge health economics research that informs public policy. An organizing committee composed of academic economists and former policymakers from both the executive and legislative branches will select seven papers to be presented during the symposium on October 4-6. In addition to the featured papers, the symposium will include brief panel discussions with leading experts from the medical, health policy, and life sciences industries. The event is open to the public and expected to attract a diverse audience, including policymakers, congressional staff, academics, and other thought leaders.
Papers should highlight original research or health economics policy analysis focused on the themes listed below. Examples of relevant topics are listed under each theme.
Insurance markets
- Drivers of insurance premium costs
- Barriers to insurance coverage of generic and biosimilar drugs
- Impacts of vertical integration between PBMs/insurers/pharmacies on market competition, costs, and access
- Economic and workforce impacts of Medicaid policy changes
Hospitals and health systems
- 340B Drug Pricing Program growth, transparency and accountability
- Impact of 340B on patient affordability and health system costs
- Drivers of hospital cost growth and competition
- Provider consolidation among 340B hospitals, impact on prices and patient access
Pharmaceuticals
- Impacts of U.S. drug pricing policies, such as the Inflation Reduction Act or the proposed Most Favored Nations policy, on patient access, provider reimbursement, R&D incentives, the market for generic and biosimilar drugs, and other economic outcomes
- Relationships between biopharma R&D investment and expected returns
- Role of intellectual property frameworks (e.g., Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA) in promoting competition and innovation
- Role of pharmaceuticals in healthcare cost growth, labor productivity, and other outcomes, including the long-term trade-offs between drug cost expansion and reductions in broader healthcare and non-medical social spending.
- Role of medical technology in cost growth, labor productivity, and other outcomes
- Growth in China’s global competitiveness
The papers and presentation are expected to go beyond the ‘what’ and ’so what’ of the analysis to include ‘how’ it can be applied to executive or legislative action. The format will be a 15-minute brief presentation of the paper followed by participant discussion and questions. The proposed agenda for the meeting and its cadence are as follows. We look forward to your contribution to this important and timely conversation.
Submission Requirements
- Papers/abstracts must be submitted by the 1st of August 2025 (midnight, Hawaii time).
- A full paper or extended abstract (one page)
- Include the names and affiliated organization of the presenter
- Submit papers to: WHES@thehealnetwork.org
Presenters will be notified of their paper’s acceptance by September 1, 2026.
Honoria
A $4,000 Honoria will be provided to presenters for papers selected for presentation.
For more information, please see the full call for papers announcement here.
Caribbean Health Economics Symposium (CHES)
Call for papers coming soon!
Highland Health Economics Symposium (HHES)
Paper Submissions Now Closed.
Full Conference Agenda Here.
We are pleased to invite you to submit a paper for the third Highland Health Economics Symposium (HHES) to be held June 22-25, 2026, at The Drury, Oban, Scotland. The conference will provide a global forum for path-breaking health economics research critical to public policy, financing, and technology innovation. Up to five papers will be selected by the organizing committee for presentation. Up to two presenters for each paper will be eligible for travel and lodging honorarium. Brief panel discussions with medical industry experts will be woven into the program. Additional attendees not presenting papers will be invited to participate in the program and sponsored activities such as the whisky sampling and evening Cèilidh.
Papers may cover any topic in the field of health economics. Presentation format will be a discussion of the paper by the author(s), followed by participant discussion and questions. Full papers will be required in advance of the meeting. For an illustration of paper quality, see last year’s HHES 2025 program. Topics of interest this year (and most) include but are not limited to:
- Impact of growing market concentration on insurance markets
- Abuse effects on drug availability and costs for patients
- Intellectual property on medical technology & pharmacy innovation
- Impact of most-favored-nation drug policies
- Declining drug prices through global or national competition
- Evidence of medical price transparency policy on cost for patients
- Impact of Vertical Integration with Insurers
- Investing in futures cures without certainty
- Price setting and its impact on competition
Submission Requirements
- Papers/Abstracts must be submitted by March 15, 2026 (midnight, Hawaii time). Presenters will be notified by April 15, 2026.
- Full paper or extended abstract (one page)
- Include names and organizations of up to two presenters
- Submit papers to: HHES@terramedica.co.uk
Honoria
- Honoria will be available for up to two presenters for papers selected for presentation. Scholarship will include lodging (double occupancy) for up to three nights (June 22-25) and airfare to the UK (up to $1,000 for travel).
For more information, please see the full call for papers announcement here.