Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR) Intern

Primary Function of Position

The HEOR Intern will join Intuitives Future Forward Medical Affairs team for a 1012 week summer internship reporting to the Staff Epidemiologist Future Forward Medical Affairs. The intern will own a defined scoped real-world evidence project using administrative claims data and reimbursement coding (CPT/HCPCS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG) to characterize patient populations procedure volumes healthcare resource utilization and costs for a technology in development. Working alongside senior epidemiology data science and market access colleagues the intern will contribute analyses that inform value propositions and may help translate findings into inputs for budget impact or other economic models. The internship culminates in a final presentation to Future Forward leadership and cross-functional partners.

Essential Job Duties

• Real-World Data Analysis: With guidance from senior team members conduct a retrospective claims-based analysis to characterize patient populations estimate procedure volumes and describe utilization outcomes and costs relevant to a Future Forward pipeline technology.
• Coding & Cohort Definition: Identify and validate CPT/HCPCS ICD-10-CM/PCS and MS-DRG code sets to define target populations procedures comorbidities and outcomes; document code lists and assumptions so they can be reused by the team.
• Study Planning & Programming: Contribute to a brief study protocol and statistical analysis plan; write document and quality-check analytic code partnering with the teams data scientist on shared data pipelines.
• Evidence Review: Conduct a targeted literature review to inform study design benchmark findings against published evidence and surface evidence gaps for the technology under study.
• Economic Modeling Support: Where relevant translate claims-based estimates (e.g. procedure volumes event rates costs) into inputs for budget impact or other economic models and support model development or validation.
• Communication: Summarize findings in clear visualizations and slides; deliver a final presentation to Future Forward leadership; contribute to a draft abstract where findings warrant.

Qualifications :

Required Skills and Experience 

• Hands-on experience with reimbursement coding systems (CPT/HCPCS ICD-10-CM/PCS and MS-DRG) gained through dissertation research research-assistant work or prior employment including using codes to define cohorts procedures and outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing at least one large administrative claims or hospital database (e.g. Medicare MedPAR/SAF MarketScan Optum Clinformatics Premier PearlDiver Komodo Health or similar) from data extraction and cleaning through analysis.
• Proficiency in SAS and/or R and working knowledge of SQL
• Strong written and verbal communication with the ability to translate technical analysis for non-specialist audiences.
• Comfortable working on a defined deliverable under the guidance of senior team members with the independence to drive it to completion within the internship period.
• Intellectual curiosity and comfort with ambiguity; this team works on problems that are not yet fully defined.

University Hiring Program Eligibility Requirements:

• University Enrollment: Must be currently enrolled in and returning to an accredited degree-seeking academic program after the internship.
• Internship Work Period: Must be available to work full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) during a 10-12 week period starting May or June. Specific start dates are shared during the recruiting process.

Required Education and Training

• Current enrollment in a Health Economics Health Outcomes/Services Research Health Policy Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research Epidemiology Biostatistics or related degree-seeking program at the Doctorate (PhD) level.

Working Conditions 

• None

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Experience developing or adapting budget impact models or other health economic models (e.g. cost-effectiveness cost-consequence) in Excel consistent with ISPOR good-practice guidelines.
• Familiarity with Medicare payment methodologies (IPPS/MS-DRG OPPS/APC MPFS/RVU) and how coding drives payment across sites of service.
• Research experience in medical devices surgery or procedural care.
• Peer-reviewed publications or congress abstracts (e.g. ISPOR AcademyHealth).
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g. Tableau Power BI).

Additional Information :

Due to the nature of our business and the role please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race sex pregnancy sexual orientation gender identity national origin color age religion protected veteran or disability status genetic information or any other status protected under federal state or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 743.13(b)) some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employeeswho are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the governments licensing process can take 3 to 6 months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (TCP) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employeesstart date which may or may not be flexible and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Accommodation & Accessibility Notice:

Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process please contact People Services at

We provide market-competitive compensation packages inclusive of base pay (paid at an hourly rate) benefits and a housing allowance. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role as actual pay will be determined based on several factors including relevant skills and experience for this internship degree-seeking academic program (PhD Masters Bachelors etc) year in school and location. The hourly rate is prorated against the intern program salaries listed and total program compensation will be based on internship duration.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Intern