Category: Policy

2025 research updates

As 2026 gets under way, it might be a good time to highlight some of  our 2025 success stories.

These will be somewhat generic explanations as nearly all of these are covered with Non-Disclosure Agreements.

    • Two of our 2025 economics projects resulted in research publication early this year. (See separate announcements for these.)
    • We provided cost analytics that along with clinical explanations that enabled Medicare to make changes to certain payment policies. As the result, more patients potentially will have access to life-savings treatments.
    • We worked with another company to help them better understand patient demographics and economics for a rare disease. This work helps paint a broader understanding of treatment options and disease progression. Not only did the research result in a poster for a major conference, the poster won an award for presentation.
    • We helped another company verify and understand mortality and economic costs of certain types of surgeries. This economics understanding should go a long ways toward helping patient outcomes as well as controlling hospital costs.
    • We helped a number of early stage start-up companies better understand the economics of their new devices or treatments. We were able to assist them in better understanding their pathway to patient care and marketplace acceptance.
    • It was a busy year, and 2026 proves to be equally as fruitful.

CPVD research paper published

Babies born with congenital pulmonary valve disease (CPVD) face a lifetime burden of disease and significant medical expense beginning in their first year of life. Hopewell Economics assisted with the publication of a peer-reviewed  paper appearing on the Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research.

The project found that lifetime costs and burden of care for patients with CPVD exceeded $2 million. Babies with CPVD often face considerable hospitalizations in their first years of life. In highlighting the considerable lifetime costs, this study highlights the need for better, earlier intervention in treating such patients.

The research paper is here

Hopewell Economics research project wins gold ribbon award

Hopewell Economics has been honored as part of a team that received a gold ribbon for a research poster presented at the Association of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)  in Houston. There were more than 350 entries in the poster contest. Fewer than 10 percent received an award.

Titled: Claims database analysis of health care resource utilization and associated medical costs in patients with Barth syndrome in the United States the research project examined patient demographics and costs for the extremely rare Barth Syndrome.

ACMP posterBarth Syndrome affects males who often fail to thrive as children and face numerous healthcare challenges as they age. Few make it past age 40. Because it is so rare, there has been little previous research into the disease costs and treatments.

Working from several data sources, Hopewell Economics was able to constructed a better profile of patients and the numerous challenges and their medical needs. The economics research will help researchers and physicians in better identifying Barth Syndrome patients and understanding the likely disease progression.

The research was also published in a supplement to JCMP, the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy.

The project was conducted along with UT Health Houston, McGovern Medical School; Barth Syndrome Foundation; Akron Children’s Hospital NeuroDevelopmental Science Center; and Hopewell Economics LLC

AMCP 2025 is anticipated to attract more than 4,000 managed care decision-makers to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX, from March 31-April 3.

 

A best seller: Medicare & You

Medicare & You book
Medicare’s 2025 handbook.

It’s a book few healthcare analysts see unless they are Medicare eligible. Each year, generally in late September or early October, Medicare publishes “Medicare & You” a handbook to help beneficiaries navigate their Medicare coverage.

Given the complexities, it’s a surprisingly well done publication with generally easy to understand, clear explanations. When the material becomes too involved, Medicare often includes pointers to where more information can be found. Continue reading “A best seller: Medicare & You”