Ten high-priority areas for health policy research in 2026-2027

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Health Policy Analysis
• Health Systems Science

Background:

• Health policy is rapidly evolving due to reforms, market shifts, pharmaceutical developments, and new care models.
• These transformations significantly impact healthcare access, affordability, quality, and sustainability.
• There is a critical need for research to guide policy decisions in this dynamic landscape.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify 10 priority areas for health services and policy research.
• To organize these priorities across five key domains relevant to current health policy debates.
• To highlight crucial evidence needs for policymakers and researchers.

Main Methods:

• The study is an editorial identifying research priorities.
• Priorities are organized thematically into five domains.
• Specific policy-relevant topics are discussed as examples.

Main Results:

• Ten priority research areas are proposed across five domains: access/coverage/quality/delivery reform, corporatization, pharmaceutical policy, international comparisons, and innovation/resiliency.
• Key topics include H.R.1 impact on Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, immigration policy effects, healthcare corporatization, pharmaceutical pricing, international research, precision nutrition, climate change, and AI.
• Emphasis is placed on the need for policy-relevant research evaluating mechanisms, implementation, and impacts.

Conclusions:

• Rigorous, policy-relevant research is essential to navigate current health policy transformations.
• Addressing these 10 priority areas will inform critical policy debates and evidence needs.
• Future research should focus on evaluating real-world impacts and mechanisms to ensure health system sustainability and performance.