Cost-effectiveness, Health economics, Health Technology Assessment, Reimbursement
The Health Economic Evaluation (HEE) research group at the Julius Center is part of the Department of Epidemiology and Health Economics. Several terms exist within our field, such as health economics and health technology assessment (HTA). While health economics and HTA are often used interchangeably, they are distinct: health economics provides the theoretical and methodological foundation, whereas HTA applies these tools to evaluate the value, often in terms of costs and quality of life, of health technologies in decision-making. The HEE-group has expertise in both HE and HTA.
The aim of our group is to deliver and improve high-quality health technology assessments and its methods that support informed decision-making and thereby contribute to affordable, accessible healthcare.
For general inquiries, please contact us: Miriam van de Meulen at M.P.vanderMeulen-16@UMCUtrecht.nl, Renske ten Ham at R.M.T.tenHam-2@UMCUtrecht.nl and Chris van Lieshout at C.vanLieshout@umcutrecht.nl.
We evaluate, often in terms of costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs), health technologies and interventions including pharmaceuticals, innovative therapies, regenerative medicines, surgical interventions, medical devices, diagnostics, public health interventions and appropriate care interventions.
A health economic evaluation is most often associated with reimbursement. However, it can have value for different stakeholders at different phases of a life cycle of a healthcare intervention. For example, in the (pre)clinical development phase (early economic evaluation) it can be used to inform development and research decisions. Towards the end of the development process, it can be performed for reimbursement assessment to secure market authorization, or post market access in the context of re-evaluation or indication expansion.
In addition to performing these analyses, we strive to improve health economic methodologies. Our methodological expertise encompasses key areas: early economic evaluations, handling uncertainty of innovative medications, evaluations with a non-robust evidence base and data collection of healthcare resource use and quality of life embedded within clinical trials or observational research.
We often work within or as part of a larger study group. We strive to make fit-for-purpose designs and data collection for our analyses. In that way, we can ensure robust and actionable outcomes. Thus, if you would like to collaborate on a new proposal or study, please contact us early in the process.