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...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: T.H. Kleinhout-Vliek, A.A. De Bont, A. Boer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-06-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07781-1
_version_ 1818469520775315456
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
work_keys_str_mv AT thkleinhoutvliek undercarefulconstructioncombiningfindingsargumentsandvaluesintorobusthealthcarecoveragedecisions
AT aadebont undercarefulconstructioncombiningfindingsargumentsandvaluesintorobusthealthcarecoveragedecisions
AT aboer undercarefulconstructioncombiningfindingsargumentsandvaluesintorobusthealthcarecoveragedecisions