Evidence for Healthcare Improvement
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ICER SEEKS TO PROVIDE AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE OF EVIDENCE - FREE FROM FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TO HELP PATIENTS TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE BY CATALYZING A MOVEMENT TOWARD FAIR PRICING, FAIR ACCESS, AND FUTURE INNOVATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
- Income
- $9.2 million
- Spending
- $8.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $525,925, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 55% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $5.9 million spent. ICER'S PROGRAM TO EVALUATE NEW TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING NEW DRUGS AT OR NEAR THE TIME OF FDA APPROVAL, PROVIDES AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ALONG WITH AN ASSOCIATED HEALTH-BENEFIT PRICE BENCHMARK, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF HELPING DECISION-MAKERS UNDERSTAND AND APPLY EVIDENCE TO IMPROVE VALUE THROUGHOUT THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. THE ROBUST RESEARCH CONDUCTED TO PRODUCE REPORTS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IS COMPLEMENTED BY AN EXTENSIVE PATIENT AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT ENSURES THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE AT THE CENTER OF THE WORK. THE REPORTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ARE VETTED THROUGH THREE REGIONAL COLLABORATIVES OF INDEPENDENT EXPERTS IN THE EVALUATION AND APPLICATION OF EVIDENCE: THE CALIFORNIA TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT FORUM (CTAF), THE MIDWEST COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS PUBLIC ADVISORY COUNCIL (MIDWEST CEPAC), AND THE NEW ENGLAND COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS PUBLIC ADVISORY COUNCIL (NEW ENGLAND CEPAC). FOR EACH PANEL, INDEPENDENT CLINICIANS, METHODOLOGISTS, AND PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES CONVENE SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR AT PUBLIC MEETINGS TO REVIEW OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE REPORTS PRODUCED BY ICER AND TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW STAKEHOLDERS CAN APPLY EVIDENCE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND VALUE OF HEALTH CARE. ALL THREE PANELS DIRECTLY ENGAGE CLINICIANS, PATIENTS, AND PAYERS DURING THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DISCUSS APPLICATION OF THE EVIDENCE FOR CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING, BENEFIT DESIGN, AND PATIENT AND CLINICIAN TOOLS TO IMPROVE CLINICAL CARE AND PATIENT OUTCOMES.
- $602,043 spent. ICER ANALYTICS IS A CLOUD-BASED PLATFORM THAT FACILITATES THE USE OF ICER'S EVIDENCE REPORTS AND UNDERLYING ANALYSES TO HELP ALL AMERICANS ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO HIGH-VALUE CARE. AVAILABLE ON A SUBSCRIPTION BASIS, THE PLATFORM PROVIDES PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PAYERS, CLINICIANS, PATIENTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, WITH A SUITE OF TOOLS THAT STREAMLINE INTERPRETATION OF ICER'S ANALYSES, DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE, ALL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT INTEGRATION INTO USERS' OWN PRICING, REIMBURSEMENT, AND CLINICAL WORK. ICER ANALYTICS SUBSCRIBERS HAVE ACCESS TO ICER'S PRICE BENCHMARKS, COST-EFFECTIVENESS RESULTS, COMPARATIVE CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS JUDGMENTS, POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ECONOMIC MODELS WITHIN TWO PRIMARY TOOLS THE EVIDENCE COMPENDIUM AND THE INTERACTIVE MODELER.
- $458,131 spent. THE POLICY LEADERSHIP FORUM ("PLF") WAS LAUNCHED TO GIVE A SELECT NUMBER OF LEADING HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF EVIDENCE AND COVERAGE POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE TENSION BETWEEN INNOVATION AND HEALTH CARE COSTS CONTINUES TO FOCUS CRITICAL ATTENTION ON HOW EVIDENCE WILL BE DEVELOPED BY MANUFACTURERS AND HOW IT WILL BE INTERPRETED BY PAYERS IN MAKING COVERAGE DECISIONS. BENEFITING FROM ICER'S EXPERIENCE AS A LEADER IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT, AND ITS UNIQUE ABILITY TO SERVE AS AN ENGAGED, OBJECTIVE CONVENER AND MODERATOR, PLF BRINGS TOGETHER A SMALL, INFLUENTIAL GROUP OF EVIDENCE LEADERS FROM INSURERS, PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGEMENT FIRMS, HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT GROUPS, AND LIFE SCIENCE COMPANIES TO ADDRESS KEY CONTROVERSIES IN EVIDENCE METHODS AND POLICY. WORKING TOGETHER IN A BALANCED, NONADVERSARIAL ENVIRONMENT, PLF MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFLUENTIAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS WHILE ENHANCING THE SKILLS, INSIGHTS, AND RELATIONSHIPS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMPETITIVE POSITION IN THE MARKETPLACE. DUES FROM PLF MEMBERS SUPPORT ICER'S ANNUAL POLICY SUMMIT AND DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO FUNDING FOR ICER'S VALUE ASSESSMENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.