Dictionary
The Dictionary provides concise definitions of health economics terms, arranged alphabetically for quick reference. Use it to understand unfamiliar terminology or confirm the meaning of a specific term.
A
- Appraisal
- The formal process by which an assessment body evaluates clinical and economic evidence for a technology and reaches a funding decision.
- Appraisal CommitteeAppraisal Panel, Evaluation Committee
- An appointed group that deliberates on clinical, economic and other relevant evidence to make a health technology recommendation within an institution’s decision framework.
- Appraisal MeetingCommittee Meeting, Appraisal Hearing
- A formal session at which an appraisal committee reviews submitted evidence, discusses key issues, and deliberates toward a decision.
- Appraisal ProcessAppraisal Workflow, HTA Decision Pathway
- The complete sequence of steps an assessment body follows, from evidence submission through committee deliberation to a final recommendation.
- AssessmentTechnical Evaluation, Evidence Evaluation
- Within a health technology assessment process, the technical evaluation of clinical and economic evidence, typically conducted before a final appraisal decision.
C
- Clinical ReviewClinical Practice Review, Clinical Appraisal
- An evaluation of the clinical evidence and practice patterns relevant to a technology or condition, typically part of a broader assessment.
- Committee DiscussionCommittee Deliberation, Appraisal Discussion
- The deliberative process during which appraisal committee members review and debate submitted evidence before reaching a final recommendation.
- Consistency AssessmentConsistency Appraisal, Effect Similarity Assessment
- An evaluation of whether an intervention's estimated effect is similar across the different studies contributing to a body of evidence.
- Cost-Benefit PolicyMonetised Policy Appraisal, CBA Policy Approach
- A policy analysis approach expressing both costs and benefits of alternative options in monetary terms, enabling direct cross-sector comparison.
- Cost-Effectiveness PolicyCE Policy Analysis, Non-Monetary Policy Appraisal
- A policy analysis approach comparing costs and non-monetary outcomes, such as health gains, without converting outcomes into monetary terms.
- Critical AppraisalStudy Appraisal, Evidence Critical Review
- The systematic process of carefully and objectively assessing a research study's trustworthiness, relevance, and results before using it to inform a decision.
D
- Decision AlgorithmDecision Rule Set, Appraisal Algorithm
- A structured framework guiding how an assessment body should weigh and combine evidence and criteria to reach a final recommendation.
- Decision CriteriaAppraisal Criteria, Funding Decision Factors
- The specific factors, such as cost-effectiveness and clinical benefit, an assessment body formally considers when reaching a funding recommendation.
E
- Ethical ReviewEthics Review, Ethical Appraisal
- A formal evaluation of the ethical acceptability of a proposed research study or health policy, conducted by a dedicated committee.
- Evaluation StandardsEvaluation Criteria, Research Appraisal Standards
- The criteria used to assess whether a research study has been conducted appropriately and achieved its intended objectives, scientifically and ethically.
- Evidence ReviewAssessment-Question Review, Research Evidence Appraisal
- A systematic evaluation of available research evidence relevant to a specific assessment question, following established systematic review methodology.
- Evidence Review GroupERG, Academic Assessment Team
- An independent academic team commissioned to critically evaluate a manufacturer's submitted evidence, informing the appraisal committee's deliberations.
F
- Final RecommendationFinal Guidance, Binding Recommendation
- The concluding, binding decision issued by an assessment body following its full appraisal process, determining a technology's funding status.
H
- Health Technology AssessmentHTA, Health Technology Appraisal
- A multidisciplinary assessment of a health technology’s clinical, economic, organisational, social and ethical implications undertaken to support policy and practice decisions.
I
- Impact AssessmentConsequence Assessment, Impact Appraisal
- An evaluation of the anticipated or actual consequences of an assessment decision, covering patient outcomes, costs, and societal effects.
M
- MCDA in HTAMulti-Criteria HTA, MCDA Appraisal
- The application of multi-criteria decision analysis within assessment, weighing multiple factors such as benefit, cost, and equity together explicitly.
- Medical Necessity ReviewNecessity Appraisal, Medical-Necessity Audit
- An evaluation conducted by a payer to determine whether a proposed service meets established clinical coverage criteria, consistent with accepted practice.
P
- Panel Decision
- The formal conclusion reached by an expert panel or appraisal committee following its review and deliberation on an assessment question.
T
- Technology Appraisal
- A specific type of assessment evaluating whether a technology represents an appropriate use of health system resources, resulting in a funding recommendation.
V
- Voting Process
- The formal mechanism by which appraisal committee members reach and record their collective decision on a technology's funding recommendation.