Free Care, Cholestyramine, and Health Policy

Document Type

Letter

Publication Date

3-21-1985

Description

To the Editor: Drs. Himmelstein and Woolhandler have pointed out one of the limitations of cost-effectiveness analysis in their article in the December 6 issue.1 Their comparison of a specific therapy (cholestyramine) and a policy option (free care), in terms of mortality reduction per dollar spent, is intriguing. Their conclusion is well taken; free care is apparently more cost effective than cholestyramine therapy in reducing mortality. But given the practically infinite number of means to achieve that end, to examine just two options is wholly inadequate. Cost-effectiveness analysis is a useful concept in choosing between a finite number of options.

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