Legislating against Use of Cost-Effectiveness Information

Abstract

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute . . . shall not develop or employ a dollars per quality adjusted life year (or similar measure that discounts the value of a life because of an individual's disability) as a threshold to establish what type of health care is cost effective or recommended. The Secretary shall not utilize such an adjusted life year (or such a similar measure) as a threshold to determine coverage, reimbursement, or incentive programs under title XVIII.— The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act1 In 1996, after 2 years of deliberation, the U.S. Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine, . . .