title: Cost-benefit analysis: a research tool for evaluating innovative health programs.
abstract: This article reviews the evaluation methodology known as cost-benefit analysis. Studies which have utilized this technique are presented and briefly reviewed. In addition, the closely related technique known as cost-effectiveness (C-E) analysis is described and contrasted with cost-benefit analysis. Several research articles utilizing C-E are described. It is recommended that cost-benefit analysis be used as a mechanism to evaluate innovative health programs. This may be the sole mechanism that will enable health practitioners to cost-justify their innovative services to the federal government and other third-party payers.
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005380:Financing, Government; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014481:United States