The role of cost-effectiveness analysis in managed-care decisions.

This article considers the role of cost-effectiveness studies in the formulary and disease-state management decisions of managed-care entities. In a recently published symposium volume [Soc Sci Med 1997; 45 (4): 505-647], US managed-care entities were found to be among the leaders in applying cost-effectiveness studies to healthcare decisions. At the same time, a number of barriers were identified that hinder their wider usage in the managed-care sector. These factors are analysed in this paper along with the prospects for future changes. The potential roles for government policy in this area are also discussed in the final section of the article.