How Can Cost-Effectiveness Information Help Control Unsustainable Growth in U.S. Health Care Spending?
Authors: Neil M. Kirschner
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Letters6 January 2009How Can Cost-Effectiveness Information Help Control Unsustainable Growth in U.S. Health Care Spending?Neil M. Kirschner, PhD, Stephen G. Pauker, MD, and Joseph W. Stubbs, MDNeil M. Kirschner, PhDFrom the American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA 19106; Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111; and Albany, GA 31707.Search for more papers by this author, Stephen G. Pauker, MDFrom the American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA 19106; Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111; and Albany, GA 31707.Search for more papers by this author, and Joseph W. Stubbs, MDFrom the American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA 19106; Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111; and Albany, GA 31707.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-150-1-200901060-00013 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Garber (1) and Wilensky (2) both recognize the importance of information about comparative effectiveness and cost in making rational choices among alternative therapies. Extending Garber's analogy, without information about comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, we are ordering not only from a menu without prices but also, for many, from a menu written in a foreign language. Both components from a trusted source are needed to make rational, effective health care decisions.Although we recognize Wilensky's superb knowledge of political realities, we disagree strongly with her call for a separate entity (that is, the payers) to develop unbiased data ...References1. Garber AM. A menu without prices [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148:964-6. [PMID: 18483127] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Wilensky GR. Cost-effectiveness information: yes, it's important, but keep it separate, please! [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148:967-8. [PMID: 18483126] LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From the American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA 19106; Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111; and Albany, GA 31707.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoA Menu without Prices Alan M. Garber Cost-Effectiveness Information: Yes, It's Important, but Keep It Separate, Please! Gail R. Wilensky How Can Cost-Effectiveness Information Help Control Unsustainable Growth in U.S. Health Care Spending? Arvind R. Cavale How Can Cost-Effectiveness Information Help Control Unsustainable Growth in U.S. Health Care Spending? Robert A. Murden and Eric E. Seiber Metrics Cited byCurrent and Future Challenges for Collaborative Computational Technologies for the Life SciencesComparative Effectiveness ResearchTime for Cooperation in Health Economics among the Modelling Community 6 January 2009Volume 150, Issue 1Page: 57KeywordsClinical trialsConflicts of interestHealth care ePublished: 6 January 2009 Issue Published: 6 January 2009 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...