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Priority setting in the German healthcare system: results from a discrete choice experiment

Author

Listed:
  • V. Meusel

    (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • E. Mentzakis

    (City University of London)

  • P. Baji

    (Corvinus University of Budapest)

  • G. Fiorentini

    (University of Bologna)

  • F. Paolucci

    (Murdoch University
    University of Bologna)

Abstract

Worldwide, social healthcare systems must face the challenges of a growing scarcity of resources and of its inevitable distributional effects. Explicit criteria are needed to define the boundaries of public reimbursement decisions. As Germany stands at the beginning of such a discussion, more formalised priority setting procedures seem in order. Recent research identified multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) as a promising approach to inform and to guide decision-making in healthcare systems. In that regard, this paper aims to analyse the relative weight assigned to various criteria in setting priority interventions in Germany. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was employed in 2015 to elicit equity and efficiency preferences of 263 decision makers, through six attributes. The experiment allowed us to rate different policy interventions based on their features in a composite league table (CLT). As number of potential beneficiaries, severity of disease, individual health benefits and cost-effectiveness are the most relevant criteria for German decision makers within the sample population, the results display an overall higher preference towards efficiency criteria. Specific high priority interventions are mental disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

Suggested Citation

  • V. Meusel & E. Mentzakis & P. Baji & G. Fiorentini & F. Paolucci, 2023. "Priority setting in the German healthcare system: results from a discrete choice experiment," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 411-431, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ijhcfe:v:23:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10754-023-09347-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10754-023-09347-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Decision making; Priority setting; Efficiency; Discrete choice experiment; Healthcare; Innovation; Germany;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health

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