Box 1.

Methods of economic analyses in health care

Cost-of-illness analysis: Determines the economic impact of an illness or condition

Cost-minimization analysis: Studies the least costly among similar alternative interventions

CEA: Compares costs with outcomes in different units. Two types of CEA

CUA: Compares costs in monetary units with outcomes in terms of utility

Cost-consequence analysis: Compares costs and outcomes in discrete categories, without aggregating or weighting them

CBA: Compares costs and benefits, in common monetary units

BIA: Studies the impact of a particular technology or related policy on a designated budget

Cost accounting: Process of collecting, recording, classifying, analyzing, summarizing, allocating, and evaluating various alternative courses of action and control of costs

CEA: Cost-effectiveness analysis, CUA: Cost-utility analysis, CBA: Cost-benefit analysis, BIA: Budget-impact analysis