Under careful construction: combining findings, arguments, and values into robust health care coverage decisions
Abstract Background Health care coverage decisions deal with health care technology provision or reimbursement at a national level. The coverage decision report, i.e., the publicly available document giving reasons for the decision, may contain various elements: quantitative calculations like cost a...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-06-01
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Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07781-1 |
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author | T.H. Kleinhout-Vliek A.A. De Bont A. Boer |
author_facet | T.H. Kleinhout-Vliek A.A. De Bont A. Boer |
author_sort | T.H. Kleinhout-Vliek |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Background Health care coverage decisions deal with health care technology provision or reimbursement at a national level. The coverage decision report, i.e., the publicly available document giving reasons for the decision, may contain various elements: quantitative calculations like cost and clinical effectiveness analyses and formalised and non-formalised qualitative considerations. We know little about the process of combining these heterogeneous elements into robust decisions. Methods This study describes a model for combining different elements in coverage decisions. We build on two qualitative cases of coverage appraisals at the Dutch National Health Care Institute, for which we analysed observations at committee meetings (n = 2, with field notes taken) and the corresponding audio files (n = 3), interviews with appraisal committee members (n = 10 in seven interviews) and with Institute employees (n = 5 in three interviews), and relevant documents (n = 4). Results We conceptualise decisions as combinations of elements, specifically (quantitative) findings and (qualitative) arguments and values. Our model contains three steps: 1) identifying elements; 2) designing the combinations of elements, which entails articulating links, broadening the scope of designed combinations, and black-boxing links; and 3) testing these combinations and choosing one as the final decision. Conclusions Based on the proposed model, we suggest actively identifying a wider variety of elements and stepping up in terms of engaging patients and the public, including facilitating appeals. Future research could explore how different actors perceive the robustness of decisions and how this relates to their perceived legitimacy. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:25:37Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-14fd0510d8ec42f68b3d42b1df96d301 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1472-6963 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:25:37Z |
publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
publisher | BMC |
record_format | Article |
series | BMC Health Services Research |
spelling | doaj.art-14fd0510d8ec42f68b3d42b1df96d3012022-12-22T02:29:20ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632022-06-0122111010.1186/s12913-022-07781-1Under careful construction: combining findings, arguments, and values into robust health care coverage decisionsT.H. Kleinhout-Vliek0A.A. De Bont1A. Boer2Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus UniversityErasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus UniversityErasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus UniversityAbstract Background Health care coverage decisions deal with health care technology provision or reimbursement at a national level. The coverage decision report, i.e., the publicly available document giving reasons for the decision, may contain various elements: quantitative calculations like cost and clinical effectiveness analyses and formalised and non-formalised qualitative considerations. We know little about the process of combining these heterogeneous elements into robust decisions. Methods This study describes a model for combining different elements in coverage decisions. We build on two qualitative cases of coverage appraisals at the Dutch National Health Care Institute, for which we analysed observations at committee meetings (n = 2, with field notes taken) and the corresponding audio files (n = 3), interviews with appraisal committee members (n = 10 in seven interviews) and with Institute employees (n = 5 in three interviews), and relevant documents (n = 4). Results We conceptualise decisions as combinations of elements, specifically (quantitative) findings and (qualitative) arguments and values. Our model contains three steps: 1) identifying elements; 2) designing the combinations of elements, which entails articulating links, broadening the scope of designed combinations, and black-boxing links; and 3) testing these combinations and choosing one as the final decision. Conclusions Based on the proposed model, we suggest actively identifying a wider variety of elements and stepping up in terms of engaging patients and the public, including facilitating appeals. Future research could explore how different actors perceive the robustness of decisions and how this relates to their perceived legitimacy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07781-1Health Care Decision-makingHealth Care CoverageExpertisePatient and Public Involvement and EngagementRobustness |
spellingShingle | T.H. Kleinhout-Vliek A.A. De Bont A. Boer Under careful construction: combining findings, arguments, and values into robust health care coverage decisions BMC Health Services Research Health Care Decision-making Health Care Coverage Expertise Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Robustness |
title | Under careful construction: combining findings, arguments, and values into robust health care coverage decisions |
title_full | Under careful construction: combining findings, arguments, and values into robust health care coverage decisions |
title_fullStr | Under careful construction: combining findings, arguments, and values into robust health care coverage decisions |
title_full_unstemmed | Under careful construction: combining findings, arguments, and values into robust health care coverage decisions |
title_short | Under careful construction: combining findings, arguments, and values into robust health care coverage decisions |
title_sort | under careful construction combining findings arguments and values into robust health care coverage decisions |
topic | Health Care Decision-making Health Care Coverage Expertise Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Robustness |
url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07781-1 |
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