The Vega team and experts regularly work on complex matters involving the healthcare sector and our team has provided economic analyses in both litigation and regulatory investigations. We have experience applying economic theory and econometric modelling to both healthcare markets and healthcare policy topics. Our experts’ knowledge spans multiple industries and specializations, including the intersections of health economics and insurance, and health economics and policy.

Vega and members of its network have extensive experience working with large healthcare datasets, both those that are publicly available and those that have been produced during litigation. Vega regularly analyzes databases containing hundreds of billions of medical records and has state-of-the-art and secure computing facilities to process and manage sensitive healthcare data.

Below is a list of example engagements for our Healthcare & Health Economics practice:

Bob Beckley

  • Healthcare & Health Economics
Farasat Bokhari

Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the School of Economics and Centre for Competition Policy at the University of East Anglia

  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Healthcare & Health Economics
  • Insurance & Risk
John R. Bowblis

Professor of Economics at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University (Ohio)

  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Healthcare & Health Economics
W. David Bradford

Busbee Chair in Public Policy in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Georgia

  • Healthcare & Health Economics
Michele Davidson

  • Healthcare & Health Economics
Robert P. Navarro

Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida, College of Pharmacy

  • Healthcare & Health Economics
Gabriel Picone

Professor in the Department of Economics at University of South Florida

  • Healthcare & Health Economics
Barak Richman

  • Healthcare & Health Economics
Jon M. Riddle

Principal and Senior Economist at ECONOMIC ASSOCIATES

  • Valuation
  • Healthcare & Health Economics
  • Antitrust & Competition
Louis Rossiter

Research Professor in the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy at William & Mary

  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Healthcare & Health Economics
Kosuke Uetake

Associate Professor of Marketing in the Yale University School of Management

  • Marketing & Surveys
  • Healthcare & Health Economics
  • Antitrust & Competition
Andrew Zuppann

Principal, Vega Economics

  • Labor & Employment
  • Securities & Finance
  • Data Science & Statistics
  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Healthcare & Health Economics
January 19, 2024 | Brochure
2023 Year in Review

We had the privilege of supporting numerous exceptional experts from diverse fields in 2023 and were delighted to welcome several new experts into our network. To delve into our achievements over the past year, you can find more details in our 2023 Year in Review brochure.

January 12, 2024 | Expertise
Healthcare Data Providers

This compilation explores the offerings of prominent healthcare data providers.

January 5, 2024 | Expertise
FTC Challenges to Mergers Involving Pharmaceutical Products

This insight explores some common challenges the FTC might raise in a pharmaceutical merger and how our economists can analyze relevant issues in such actions.

December 11, 2023 | Article
PBMs Under Scrutiny

This article discusses the origins of PBMs, their business models, some reasons why they are blamed for rising drug prices, and how the industry is changing.

November 29, 2023 | Featured Engagement
Featured Engagement: Analysis of Competition in the E-Prescribing Market

Dr. Daniel Spulber was retained to analyze and opine on competition in the e-prescribing markets. Dr. Spulber examined how exclusionary contracts limited the choices of users on different sides of the network to utilize multiple service providers and the resulting adverse impact on market competition. Dr. Spulber also proposed a methodology to determine whether and to what extent class members were damaged due to the alleged anticompetitive conduct. 

August 28, 2023 | News
CMS to Announce the First 10 Drugs Selected for Negotiation September 1, 2023

Medicare will begin to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers to bring down the price of covered high-cost prescription drugs. CMS will announce the first 10 drugs selected for negotiation by September 1, 2023. 

August 18, 2023 | Featured Engagement
Featured Engagement: Analysis of Physician Co-Management Agreements & Referrals

Vega's expert Dr. Rossiter recently opined on the regulatory landscape surrounding physician referrals, the evolution of hospital remuneration and incentivization systems, as well as relevant co-management agreements.

August 11, 2023 | Featured Practice Area
Featured Practice Area: Healthcare & Health Economics

Check out our growing Healthcare & Health Economics practice area for more information about our experts and example engagements!

July 10, 2023 | Article
The Transition from Volume to Value in the Provision of Healthcare Services

Check out our article that discusses how the transition from volume to value in the provision of healthcare services has led to increases in quality of care.

June 23, 2023 | Article
The Regulatory Landscape Surrounding Physician Referrals

Check out our article that discusses regulations that specifically apply to physician referrals, most notably the AKS and the Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the “Stark Law.” 

June 9, 2023 | News
2023 ASHEcon Conference in St. Louis

Vega Economics is a proud sponsor of the annual ASHEcon Conference in St. Louis!

April 21, 2023 | Article
U&C Litigation Summary: Pharmacy

The term "U&C" refers to "usual and customary," which is a pricing benchmark used in the healthcare industry to determine the cost of drugs and medical services. This summary will provide an overview of the key details and timelines of some U&C litigation, including the major events and legal rulings that have occurred throughout the course of the proceedings.

February 21, 2023 | Brochure
2022 Year in Review

We had the opportunity to support several outstanding experts in 2022 from a variety of disciplines and welcomed several new experts to our network. You’ll learn more about our work last year in this brochure, our 2022 Year in Review.

December 26, 2022 | News
Expert Dr. Lou Rossiter Appointed to Virginia Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced additional key administration and board appointments on December 6. 2022. Governor Youngkin appointed Dr. Louis Rossiter to the Virginia Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee, which will advise the State in setting up its own state-based exchange.

September 23, 2022 | Brochure
Navigating Economic Issues with Insight from Leading Healthcare Experts

This brochure highlights some of our outstanding healthcare experts who focus on health economic policy, pharmaceutical markets, managed care, pharmacy, and more.

May 23, 2022 | Featured Expert
Featured Expert: Robert Navarro, PharmD

Our featured expert Robert Navarro is a managed care expert with more than 30 years of experience in drug pricing and contracting, drug formulary access and reimbursement, and drug benefit outcomes. He has practiced pharmacy in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community pharmacies. Prof. Navarro is the editor of the textbook Managed Care Pharmacy Practice and is the lead author in the managed care pharmacy chapters of the last three editions of the textbook Essentials of Managed Health Care

April 29, 2022 | Featured Engagement
Featured Engagement: Analysis of Medicare and Medicaid Payments for Drugs Dispensed in SNFs

Vega was retained to support Professor David Bradford from University of Georgia and Professor Lou Rossiter from William & Mary in a False Claims Act case where a long-term care pharmacy was alleged to give unfair discounts to nursing homes in exchange for drug referrals.

April 25, 2022 | Featured Expert
Featured Expert: Jon Riddle, PhD

Our featured expert, Jon Riddle, PhD, has worked as a professional economist for over 30 years. Dr. Riddle has provided expert opinions on a wide range of engagements including antitrust, health care, the pharmaceutical industry, and valuation and damages. In a recent case, Vega recently supported Dr. Riddle's profitability analysis of an infusion center. 

February 22, 2022 | News
In the Spotlight: PBM's Economic Influence on Drug Prices

The FTC failed to obtain enough votes to go forward with a proposed study into the impact of PBMs on drug prices and pharmacies. The 2-2 vote effectively blocks the probe that would have examined the overall competition posture of PBMs, including their contracts and practices. Vega's team and experts have in depth knowledge of the economics issues surrounding PBMs and is well suited to assist our clients navigate and address these issues. 

February 7, 2022 | Featured Engagement
Featured Engagement: Profitability Analysis of Infusion Centers

Vega was retained by an infusion center to support Dr. Jon Riddle's profitability analysis, including a review of financial statements, claims data, as well as drug invoices. Dr. Jon Riddle also estimated profits the infusion center would have expected to earn under proper management.

January 28, 2022 | Brochure
2021 Year in Review

As we look back on our practice throughout 2021, we are proud of the variety of issues our work has covered. We had the opportunity to support several outstanding experts from a variety of disciplines and welcomed several new experts to our network. You’ll learn more about our work last year in this brochure, our 2021 Year in Review.

December 20, 2021 | Featured Expert
Dr. David Bradford, Busbee Chair in Public Policy in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Georgia

Our featured expert, Dr. David Bradford, specializes in health economic policy. The Vega team recently supported Professor Bradford in a False Claims Act case where a long-term care pharmacy was alleged to give unfair discounts to nursing homes in exchange for drug referrals.

December 13, 2021 | Article
Selecting the Right Price Indicator for Pharmaceutical Cases

Analyzing drug pricing is a crucial part of antitrust cases and securities litigation involving pharmaceutical companies. This article discusses the various price metrics used in the industry, how they relate to one another, and some considerations to keep in mind when selecting the appropriate price metric for expert analysis.

November 26, 2021 | Featured Engagement
Featured Engagement: Analysis of Pricing Pressure and Price Fixing in Generic Drug Market

Vega was retained by a group of major hedge funds as opt-out plaintiffs in several securities class actions to support Professor Lou Rossiter in analyzing issues related to pricing pressures and price fixing for certain drugs in the generic drug market.

November 8, 2021 | Event
Dr. Andrew Zuppann Presents at the 2021 Vizient Connections Summit

Vega Principal Andrew Zuppann will present at this year’s 2021 Vizient Connections Summit in Las Vegas on November 15-18.

August 23, 2021 | Article
The Modern Regulatory Framework for Generic Drugs Encourages Active Price Competition

The regulatory framework for pharmaceuticals has evolved alongside this boom to facilitate the safe and affordable access to medicine as consumers increase their use of generics. This article reviews the historical development of the regulatory framework for generic pharmaceuticals in the U.S. and its economic impact, particularly in facilitating price competition.

April 18, 2021 | News
Relative Obesity and the Formation of Non-cognitive Abilities During Adolescence

Vega Principal Andrew Zuppann's paper on the role of relative childhood and adolescent obesity was recently published in The Journal of Human Resources.

March 25, 2021 | Featured Expert
Dr. Lou Rossiter, Research Professor, Program in Public Policy, William & Mary

Our featured expert, Lou Rossiter, is an expert in health economics. He has served as an expert on numerous cases and most recently he has been retained with the support of the Vega team to provide an analysis of pricing pressure and price fixing in the generic drug market for certain drugs.