Insights
publication | BRG Healthcare Transactions & Strategy

Healthcare Payer Index 2026

January 2026

BRG’s Healthcare Payer Index has tracked managed care priorities since 2005 based on an annual poll of 161 medical, pharmacy, network contracting, case management, and value-based payment leaders across a range of commercial and government-sponsored health plans representing approximately 124 million patients.

The top twenty priorities heading into 2026 include a new number one and seven new priorities, including new value-based goals around gastrointestinal conditions and the wave of gold-card tiered network options for physician groups.

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