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Trying to estimate a monetary value for the QALY

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Author Info

  • Jose Luis Pinto Prades

    () (Department of Economics, Universidad Pablo de Olavide)

  • Graham Loomes

    () (Department of Economics, University of East Anglia)

  • Raul Brey

    () (Department of Economics, Universidad Pablo de Olavide)

Abstract

In this paper we study the possibility of estimating a monetary value for the QALY. Using two different surveys of the Spanish population (n=900), we try to establish whether willingness to pay (WTP) is (almost) proportional to the health gains measured in QALYs. We also explore whether subjects’ responses are prone to any biases. We find that the monetary value of the QALY is higher the smaller the health gain, pointing to insensitivity in WTP. We also find two clear biases. One is the existence of sequencing effects. The other is the insensitivity of WTP to the duration of the period of payment. All these effects translate into a large variation in estimates of the monetary value of the QALY. We conclude that in order to be able to obtain consistent and stable estimates, we should try to understand better the causes of these problems with a view to developing ways of mitigating them.

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File URL: http://www.upo.es/serv/bib/wps/econ0809.pdf
File Function: First version, 2008
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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Economics in its series Working Papers with number 08.09.

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Length: 25 pages
Date of creation: May 2008
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:pab:wpaper:08.09

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Keywords: QALYs; willingness to pay; biases.;

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References

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  1. Han Bleichrodt & José María Abellán-Perpiñan & JoséLuis Pinto & Ildefonso Méndez-Martínez, 2005. "Resolving inconsistencies in utility measurement under risk: Tests of generalizations of expected utility," Economics Working Papers 798, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
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  14. George Van Houtven & John Powers & Amber Jessup & Jui-Chen Yang, 2006. "Valuing avoided morbidity using meta-regression analysis: what can health status measures and QALYs tell us about WTP?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 15(8), pages 775-795.
  15. James K. Hammitt & Kevin Haninger, 2007. "Willingness to Pay for Food Safety: Sensitivity to Duration and Severity of Illness," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 89(5), pages 1170-1175.
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Citations

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Cited by:
  1. Andersson, Henrik & Hammitt, James & Sundström, Kristian, 2011. "Willingness to pay and QALYs: What can we learn about valuing foodborne risk?," LERNA Working Papers 11.21.355, LERNA, University of Toulouse.
  2. Tilling, C & Krol, M & Tsuchiya, A & Brazier, J & van Exel, J & Brouwer, W, 2009. "Measuring the value of life: exploring a new method for deriving the monetary value of a QALY," MPRA Paper 29911, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  3. Mikel Berdud & Juan M. Cabasés Hita & Jorge Nieto, 2012. "Motivational Capital and Incentives in Health Care Organisations," Documentos de Trabajo - Lan Gaiak Departamento de Economía - Universidad Pública de Navarra 1209, Departamento de Economía - Universidad Pública de Navarra.
  4. Svensson, Mikael & Hultkrantz, Lars, 2012. "The Willingness to Pay for a QALY - Results based on value of statistical life estimates in Sweden," Karlstad University Working Papers in Economics 2, Department of Economics, Karlstad University.
  5. Hammitt, James & Haninger, Kevin, 2011. "Valuing Morbidity Risk: Willingness to Pay per Quality-Adjusted Life Year," LERNA Working Papers 11.09.343, LERNA, University of Toulouse.
  6. Powdthavee, Nattavudh & van den Berg, Bernard, 2011. "Putting different price tags on the same health condition: Re-evaluating the well-being valuation approach," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 1032-1043.

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