The period over which costs and outcomes associated with the intervention accrue. Costs and outcomes are measured during the intervention and after it ends.

The consumers or users of the results of a cost effectiveness analysis.

Ratio that deals with a single intervention and evaluates that intervention against its baseline option (e.g., no program or current practice). The ACER is calculated by dividing the net cost of the intervention by the total number of health outcomes prevented by the intervention.

An economic evaluation method in which all costs are related to a single common outcome or natural unit (e.g., life years saved).

A method generally used to determine the economic burden of a disease by assessing the direct medical and nonmedical costs of disease averted as well as productivity losses averted.

An end result that summarizes the intervention's net cost and effectiveness. The three types of CERs are:

• Average cost-effectiveness ratio (ACER),
• Marginal cost-effectiveness ratio (MCER), and
• Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).

A modeling technique that systematically aids in decision making by considering the uncertainty associated with alternative solutions to a particular problem

All expected costs that are related to a disease or condition and that are not incurred by society (or some other entity) as a result of implementing a program or intervention.

The total cost incurred by society for a particular disease or condition.

The use of applied analytic techniques to identify, measure, value, and compare the net costs and outcomes of alternative interventions.

The improved health outcome that a prevention strategy can achieve under typical community-based settings.

The improved health outcome that a prevention strategy can achieve under ideal settings.

The ultimate outcome of interest, such as years of life gained or deaths prevented.

As a method of COI, the human capital approach assesses productivity losses by using forgone income attributable to morbidity and premature mortality of a disease or condition.

The additional cost of one unit of outcome when we change to a more effective, mutually exclusive intervention.

Near-term effects of an intervention, such as persons screened, rate of condom use, or number of vaccine doses administered.

The additional cost of one unit expansion of a single intervention.

A simplified yet accurate representation of a program or intervention based on a set of assumptions.

A measurement unit used to assess the effectiveness of a program or intervention.

The product or service produced (e.g., patients seen, patient days).

An individual or organization that provides money to pay for health-care services.

The viewpoint of the bearers of the costs and benefits of an intervention (e.g., society, government, health-care providers, businesses, or patients).

Refer to the value of time (usually in terms of wages) that is forgone as a result of the morbidity or premature mortality associated with a disease or condition.

Include all fixed and variable costs that are incurred as a result of program implementation and maintenance.

A study in which the events of interest (costs and outcomes) have not yet taken place when the study begins.

A study in which the events of interest (costs and outcomes) have already occurred when the study begins.

Method for testing the validity of decision analysis findings by providing a range for all probabilities and outcome values included in the decision model that are particularly important to the results.

The broadest possible perspective for an economic evaluation. It includes all program costs, no matter who incurs them, and all program consequences, no matter who experiences them.

The population(s) for whom the program is intended.

The period over which program or intervention costs are tracked.