Value assessments in healthcare predominantly focus on pharmaceuticals rather than services and procedures, despite the latter comprising a substantial portion of healthcare spending in the US. This disparity limits opportunities to enhance systemwide efficiency and affordability. Click here for article.
Disparity in Focus:
Services and procedures account for approximately 70% of healthcare spending in the US but only constitute 42% of published cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs). In contrast, pharmaceuticals, which make up about 15% of spending, account for 43% of CEAs.
Impact of Neglect:
Neglecting value assessment for services and procedures overlooks potential improvements in system efficiency and cost control, focusing attention away from major cost drivers in healthcare.
Existing Initiatives:
Organizations like the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Choosing Wisely initiative identify low-value or unnecessary services, although economic criteria are generally absent in these assessments.
Challenges and Opportunities:
Addressing wasteful spending on services and procedures requires multifaceted solutions, including financial incentives, quality improvements, and systematic value assessments.
Prioritization Approaches:
Approaches like horizon scanning, examining spending patterns, variation indices, and value of information analysis can aid in prioritizing services and procedures for value assessment efforts.
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