TABLE 1—

Assumptions Used in the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Assumption	Explanation	Influence
All costs should be included, but only reductions in depression should be included as benefits.	By only including the most certain benefits, we reduce the chance of double counting benefits or including benefits that were not experimentally tested.	This ensures that the ICER value represents a maximum value.
One year of Medicaid investment produces 1 year of benefits.	It is likely that depression rates would return to baseline rates were Medicaid withdrawn.	Because benefits other than depression treatment may be longer lasting (e.g., colonoscopy screening), this assumption also ensures that the ICER represents a maximum value.
Secondary data sources accurately reflect measured reductions in depression in this experiment.	It is necessary to use a specialized instrument to calculate quality-adjusted life-years, and this instrument was not included in the original experiment.	Unknown.

Note. ICER = incremental cost-effectiveness value.