ECON326: Health Economics 8
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Seminar, week 8
ECON326: Health Economics
Essay questions:
1. Textbook, Chapter 13, Problem 10:
HIV survival and the introduction of HAART. In a recent journal article, Philipson and Jena (2006) study HIV survival and expenditures. Figure 13.9 shows trends in HIV survival and HIV expenditures in the U.S.
a. Figure 13.9(a) shows that HIV survival after diagnosis improved dramatically over a twenty year period. Propose three explanations for this fact, one involving pharmaceutical innovation, one involving improved HIV screening, and one involving demographic changes in the at-risk population. It is okay if these explanations do not reflect actual historical developments, but they should explain why survival after diagnosis might be improving over time.
b. Suppose now that these curves have been adjusted for screening and demographics, and that the survival improvement is entirely a reflection of technological change (such as the introduction of HAART, an effective AIDS drug that boosts immune function, in 1994). Explain why we do not have enough information in Figure 13.9(a) to determine if the improvements in HIV longevity were cost-effective.
c. Figure 13.9(b) shows that expenditures on HIV treatment rose rapidly during approximately the same period. Is this evidence that the price of HAART was increasing during this time? Is it evidence that the cost of survival was increasing during this time?
d. Suppose Philipson and Jena analyze the numbers and find that the survival improvements depicted in Figure 13.9(a) are outweighed by the increased expenditures depicted in Figure
13.9(b). Assume that AIDS patients are well-informed about the costs and benefits of the new technologies. Why would they overspend on HIV treatments that are not worth it?
e. In actuality, the researchers found that the technology improvements during this period such as HAART were massively beneficial to HIV patients, and that the survival gains far outweighed the increased cost of treatment. How do you square this statement with the fact that the price of treating HIV was increasing steadily over this period?
Analytical problems:
2. Textbook, Chapter 14, Problem 14: Traders from the faraway nation of Chplandia have brought infected goods to market in the capital of Pcoria. As a result, a new infectious disease called chpitis is spreading through the Pcorian population. Chpitis is not fatal, but leaves victims severely disfigured for the remainder of their lives.
a. The Pcorian government surveys victims to determine how burdensome chpitis is. Respondents claim they are indifferent between living six years without chpitis and living ten years covered with chpitis scars. Most respondents explain that they face a major social stigma in Pcoria’s schools and workplaces. What is the implied quality weight q for the aftermath of chpitis?
b. Now assume that a drug company has developed an ointment that can be used to treat chpitis sores and reduce scarring. Surveys indicated that the ointment, which costs $10,000 for a full course of treatment, can improve quality of life from 0.6 to 0.7 for chpitis survivors. What is the ICER for taking the ointment over doing nothing for the typical chpitis victim (a 20-year-old)? Assume that life expectancy in Pcoria is 70
years.
c. Assume that everyone in Pcoria agrees that a QALY is worth $5,000. Will a 20-year- old chpitis victim decide to get the ointment, which costs $10,000? What about a 60- year-old chpitis patient? What about a 69-year-old chpitis patient?
d. Suppose that the Pcorian government enrolls all its citizens in the Universal Insurance Program which pays (with 10% coinsurance) for any treatment. So the ointment costs patients only $1,000 out of pocket. Will a 20-year-old chpitis victim still decide to get the ointment? What about a 60-year-old chpitis patient? What about a 69-year-old chpitis patient?
3. Textbook, Chapter 14, Problem 15: Suppose Jay has been experiencing back pain, and has four options for treatment (Table 14.6).
a. Plot these four treatments on a cost-pain reduction axis. Create a cost effectiveness frontier by connecting potentially cost effective treatments.
b. Calculate the ICER between cortisone injections and a chair cushion, and between acupuncture and cortisone injections.
c. Assume that indifference curves in this space are linear. Interpret this assumption.
d. Find the range of valuations for a pain reduction unit that Jay would need in order to pick cortisone injections as the cost effective treatment. Explain your answer.
2022-03-25