Table 5.
Variables included in the decision analysis model, their assigned high, low, and baseline values, and the effect on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of insurance relative to no insurance.
| Used in Model* | Effect on ICER | ||||
| Variable | Baseline | High | Low | High | Low |
| Administrative costs | 5% | 25% | 0% | $41,000 | $21,000 |
| Hazard Ratio | 1.5 | 1.75 | 1.25 | $19,000 | $37,000 |
| Discount rate | 3% | 5% | 0% | $26,000 | $23,000 |
| Error in cost† | 0% | 125% | 0.75% | $39,000 | 10,000 |
* All values represent the percentage change in the baseline value except for the hazard ratio, which was varied from previously published estimates to the high value observed in logistic regression analysis [see Additional file 1].
†Variability in the cost estimate for the supplemental Medicare insurance. The baseline cost is multiplied by an error term ranging from 0.75 to 1.25.