Cost-effectiveness, QALYs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios

The cost of healthcare in the United States has continued to grow at an unsustainable rate. Spine care has not been immune to these elevating costs. Given the current economic environment, policy makers and payers have started to consider a move towards a system of value-based healthcare. Spine care providers will be required to measure the value of the treatments that they provide. This manuscript discusses the concepts of value-based healthcare, outcomes measures, and cost-effectiveness and the influence they will have on our future practice.