The dominant theory in economics for centuries in the Western world has been the free market system, yet the ability of competitive markets to provide quality care has been a central point of recent debate. Extensive government regulation, though well-intentioned, adversely affects the overall health of Americans, inhibits medical innovation, and demands enormous tax-payer investment. The Initiative on Enabling Choice and Competition in Healthcare delivers cutting edge research on the efficiencies of competitiveness in the healthcare sector to demonstrate that free market forces can and do work to provide innovative, equitable, and high-quality care.
Our Vision
To be the leading university-based research center in free-market healthcare, promoting choice and competition to ensure greater access to existing care and new innovations.
Our Mission
To conduct evidence-based research and analyses on market-based choice and competition in the healthcare sector to lead to better-informed policy recommendations.
Working Papers
Ending Pay for PBM Performance: Consequences for Prescription Drug Prices, Utilization, and Government Spending
Proposed “delinking” legislation would prohibit Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from being remunerated based on the rebates and discounts they negotiate for drug insurance plans serving Medicare beneficiaries. This policy would significantly change drug pricing and...
Policy Brief: The Potentially Larger Than Predicted Impact of the IRA on Small Molecule R&D and Patient Health
This policy brief analyzes the impact of regulatory and legislative changes within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on medical R&D and patient health with respect to small molecule drugs. Initial evidence potentially suggests that the cutbacks in R&D have...
Policy Brief: The Value of Multi-Cancer Early Detection Tests and Limits to Estimating Budget Impacts of Legislation Proposed to Enable Medicare Access
This policy brief reviews the evidence on the health and cost impacts of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests, and the implications for proposed legislation to enhance their utilization in Medicare. We find that the evidence base suggests that MCED screening...
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In the Press
Biden’s Hail Mary for Re-election Will Cost the U.S. Economy | RealClearHealth | 07/19/2024
By Tomas J. Philipson July 19, 2024 As President Biden works to shore up support before the election and after a difficult first debate his...
This Is How President Biden ‘Beat Medicare’ | The Wall Street Journal | 07/09/2024
By Tomas J. Philipson July 9, 2024 His Inflation Reduction Act leaves patients with less access to medicines and higher premiums. ‘We finally beat...
Competition, Not Regulation, Will Control the Cost of Obesity | National Review | 07/04/2024
By Tomas J. Philipson Getting the government out of the way so that market forces and innovation can set the course is the best recipe for a less...
2024 ECCHC Supply-Side Economics in Healthcare Conference – Watch Now!
The 2024 ECCHC Supply-side Economics in Healthcare Conference convened both in-person and virtually on Friday, May 3. Watch the full conference, or individual presentations and learn more about the conference here!