___ ___ _______________ ________ / / / / / _____________/ / ___ | / / / / / / / / | | _ / / / / / / / / | | |_| / / / / / / / / | | _ / /__________/ / / /______ / /______| | | | / ___________ / / _______/ / ________ | | | / / / / / / / / | | | | / / / / / / / / | | | | / / / / / / / / | | | | / / / / / /_____________ / / | | |_| /__/ /__/ /________________/ /__/ |__| N E W S ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||| Volume 4, Number 4, April 1999 ||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| A publication of the INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION (iHEA) **** Back issues of iHEA NEWS are archived on the iHEA WWW homepage: **** **** <http://healtheconomics.org> **** EDITORIAL BOARD W. David Bradford, Ph.D. Center for Health Care Research, Medical University of South Carolina Jim Burgess, Ph.D. Management Science Group, Department of Veterans Affairs NOTES TO CONTRIBUTORS The editors must hear from you so that iHEA NEWS can effectively serve as a medium of communication for iHEA members. We are soliciting contributions from all members who have information relevant to the membership at large. There are a number of specific items we are seeking: * Announcement of job openings; * Announcement of conferences or seminars in health economics; * Calls for papers by journals and book editors; * Announcements of new appointments and promotions; * Articles describing activities or new initiatives at your institution, Center or firm (perhaps describing your departmental or university programs in health economics, discussing new pedagogical tools used in health economics education, describing new governmental policy initiatives or programs, and so forth). Please send any contributions via e-mail to the editors: W. David Bradford or James Burgess . ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||| Contents for the Issue ||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| FEATURE ARTICLES (FROM INSTITUTIONAL iHEA MEMBERS): LISTER HILL CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY -- U. ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM iHEA AND GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO GLOBAL MANAGED CARE.COM UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- DISTANCE LEARNING YORK EXPERT WORKSHOPS IN THE SOCIO ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF MEDICINES JOBS ALLERGAN, INC. BENCH INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO WORLD BANK CONFERENCES WISCONSIN NETWORK FOR HEALTH POLICY RESEARCH -- APRIL 26-27 IFS HEALTH ECONOMICS SEMINAR -- MAY 7 HEALTH ECONOMICS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA CONFERENCE FORTHCOMING ARTICLES JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS -- JUNE 1999 HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH -- FEBRUARY 1999 SUBSCRIPTION AND MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This newsletter is typeset in Courier 10 point font, and reads best that format. If the document is not well-aligned, reset your mail reader to display a non-proportional font (such as Courier). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= FEATURE ARTICLES ========================================================================= LISTER HILL CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY -- U. ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM A RECENT ABSTRACT FROM THE ABSTRACT SERIES Can the Human Costs of Poor Health Investments Be Quantified? "Yes," say Lister Hill Associate Scholar Aaron Stinnett and his colleague, John Mullahy. In a recent study, Stinnett and Mullahy presented a new method for the economic evaluation of health programs - one that focuses on the health benefits forgone as a result of inefficient investments. This approach is based on two basic ideas. First, because resources are scarce, tradeoffs must be made between programs' health effects and their costs. Stinnett and Mullahy address this fact of life by proposing that programs be evaluated on the basis of their net health benefits. A program's net health benefit, or NHB, is the difference between the health benefit achieved by a program and the amount of health gain that would be considered necessary to justify the program's costs: Minimum NHB = Health Benefit - Acceptable Health Benefit Second, programs are evaluated on the basis of opportunity costs. For every investment made, some other investment opportunity is forgone. If resources are invested in one program rather than another program with a higher NHB, an opportunity for greater net gains in health is lost. The difference between the two programs' NHBs is the cost of choosing the "wrong" program. NHB analysis offers several advantages over existing methods for health program evaluation. In comparison to cost-effectiveness ratios, NHBs present the opportunity costs of poor health investments more vividly. In the old method, one might infer from a high cost-effectiveness ratio that a program is "expensive" relative to the benefit it offers. NHB analysis makes it clear that the real cost of an inefficient health program is the human life and health given up by not investing the resources more wisely. Moving from the "macro" level of policy makers to the "micro" level of policy analysts, NHB analysis also offers several advantages with regard to statistical inference. In fact, the method was developed initially in response to statistical problems that frequently arise when analyzing cost-effectiveness ratios. The article: "Net Health Benefits: A New Framework for Analyzing Uncertainty in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis," by Aaron Stinnett (UAB) and John Mullahy (University of Wisconsin-Madison), appeared in Medical Decision Making's Special Issue on Pharmacoeconomics in 1998. An earlier version appeared as Technical Working Paper 227 of the National Bureau of Economic Research (Cambridge, Massachusetts). Dr. Stinnett can be reached at (205) 975-8960 or stinnett@uab.edu. ---------------------------------------------- The Lister Hill Center for Health Policy (LHC) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has a University-wide mission to foster health policy and health services research, to disseminate the findings of that research beyond the usual academic circles, and to sponsor the Lister Hill Health Policy Fellows program. The LHC draws on scholars from throughout the University to address issues of health care access, financing, organization, delivery and outcomes, with particular emphasis on prevention strategies. The Center is directed by Michael Morrisey, Ph.D. The LHC's health economics related research has focused primarily on managed care and health care markets, and outcomes research. Health care markets research has included work funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to examine hospital contracting with managed care organizations, and the effects of any-willing-provider and freedom of choice laws on HMO operations and organization. AHCPR has funded a study of managed care and care of minority populations. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor has funded work examining the effects of managed care penetration on premiums of employer sponsored health insurance. These efforts have been led by Michael Morrisey, Ph.D. and Mahmud Hassan, Ph.D. UAB is increasingly recognized for ongoing clinical health services research. Early success included efforts by LHC Scholar Robert Goldenberg, M.D., and colleagues in the Low Birthweight in Minority Populations PORT, and Stephen Mennemeyer, Ph.D., in the use of downstream claims data to monitor clinical laboratory quality. These have been followed up with a series of grant and contracts dealing with Achievable Benchmarks of Quality, Physician Awareness and Use of Guidelines, Benchmarks for Patients with Depression, and Diffusion of Cost Reducing Technology. The LHC has been active in efforts to bring more clinical health services research resources to UAB. The creation of a University-wide Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) was led by several LHC Scholars, including the COERE's co-directors, Caterina Kiefe, M.D., Ph.D., and Norm Weissman, Ph.D. The Center has been active in recruiting health services research faculty to the UAB campus. Among those recruited in the last two years have been Aaron Stinnett, Ph.D., a cost effectiveness methodologist from Harvard. Josh Klapow, Ph.D., a outcomes measurement specialist from UC San Diego, and David Grabowski, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Chicago who will join the faculty in August with a specialization in long term care markets. The Center is currently mounting a search for a senior faculty member specializing in aging policy. The Center's biggest success is the development of a culture that nurtures health policy research. This is accomplished in part through monthly seminars in which Scholars can meet and interact with other nationally known experts, discuss their own research ideas with valued colleagues, and receive constructive criticism. The Center's Intramural Grants Program provides seed money to allow UAB faculty to fund pilot projects that will serve as a stepping stone to obtaining external funding. The LHC also fosters research by publicly highlighting the work of its Scholars through its monthly Health Policy Abstracts series (featured here) and its website. The abstracts -- non-technical one-page summaries of UAB health policy research -- are sent to over 1,000 health policy makers throughout the country, and, particularly, in the Southeast. For other abstracts in this series or further information, visit the UAB Lister Hill Center at http://lhcwww.soph.uab.edu ========================================================================= iHEA ANNOUNCEMENTS ========================================================================= FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO GLOBAL MANAGED CARE.COM For the remainder of 1999, iHEA has arranged for you to have a FREE subscription to Global Managed Care.Com --- the Academy for International Health Studiesí internet informational service for healthcare executives and policy leaders. There is no obligation or conditions on your subscription. Your subscription is entirely free, but will expire at the end of the year. You may re-subscribe electronically from the site at the end of the year. In order to access Global Managed Care.Com, simply go to the web site: www.globalmanagedcare.com, click the For Subscriberís Only link, and then enter your username and password when requested. Your 1999 username and password are: Username: iHEA; Password: global. Please note, the password is case sensitive, so you will to need to enter it exactly as indicated. Weíre sure you understand the need to protect the security of the Username and Password. Therefore, we are asking that you not share your username and password with anyone else. Subscribers of Global Managed Care.Com get valuable e-mail newsletters, data delivery and forum messages delivered to their internet e-mail address. The forum in particular allows you the opportunity to exchange information, ideas and experiences with professionals involved with managed care throughout the world. If you wish to receive the e-mail newsletter, forum and data delivery services included with this subscription, please e-mail to global@mcol.mcareol.com and indicate you are affiliated with the iHEA. A major feature is the knowledge resources posted at the web site and you are encouraged to submit your articles, speeches, press releases, conference announcements, data, editorials, resource links, etc. The Academy is particularly interested in expanding the International Country Resources sections about specific nations. ------------------------------ UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA Distance Learning Announcement The School of Health Information Science at the University of Victoria (British Columbia) is pleased to announce an all-new, Internet-based distance learning opportunity in health technology assessment (HTA). Health care providers, managers, analysts, and researchers needing a well-rounded introduction to HTA will find it here. Busy professionals can build new skills while working at their own pace, on their own time, without the need for travel or missed work. Based on the experience of some of the world's leading authorities in HTA, participants will learn to: -understand HTA information; -conduct HTA studies; -use the Internet as a research tool for HTA. Course units cover: -the language of technology assessment and health services research, from basic to advanced concepts, with definitions and examples; -the stages in the technology life cycle: the moving target problem, the technology assessment iterative loop; -practical issues of health service study: rigour and validity, selection bias, randomization and other control methods, meta-analysis, ethical issues (sample course unit viewable at http://hta.uvic.ca/3lecturesample.html) ; -economic evaluation: assessing costs and effects, measuring quality of life, discounting, sensitivity analysis, equity considerations; -sources of unbiased information, on the Internet and elsewhere, including the Cochrane database of systematic reviews and the American College of Physicians' Best Evidence 2 (combining ACP Journal Club and Evidence-Based Medicine); -MEDLINE search methods; -the pitfalls of relying on vendor information, how to critique and supplement it; and -the use of health technology assessment in evidence-based medicine and evidence-based management. "HTA on the Net" was developed with funding from the British Columbia Health Research Foundation (Grant HTA-97#3) and from the School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria. For more information, including requirements, fees, and application procedures, please visit http://hta.uvic.ca/. ------------------------------ YORK EXPERT WORKSHOPS IN THE SOCIO ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF MEDICINES (Centre for Health Economics, The University of York) Venue: The Stakis Hotel, York, England Dates: 5-14 July 1999 PROGRAMME: MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC EVALUATION 5-9 July 1999 (5 days) Leader: Professor Michael Drummond PRICE: £1550 + VAT @ 17.5% = £1821.25 (before 1 May 99) £1650 + VAT @ 17.5% = £1938.75 (after 1 May 99) MODULE 2: ADVANCED TOPICS IN ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF MEDICINES 12-14 July 1999 (3 days) Leader: Professor Michael Drummond PRICE: £930 + VAT @ 17.5% = £1092.75 (before 1 May 99) £990 + VAT @ 17.5% = £1163.25 (after 1 May 99) MODULE 3: QUALITY OF LIFE MEASUREMENT 12-14 July 1999 (3 days) Leader: Mr Paul Kind PRICE: £930 + VAT @ 17.5% = £1092.75 (before 1 May 99) £990 + VAT @ 17.5% = £1163.25 (after 1 May 99) ACCOMMODATION PRICES AT STAKIS HOTEL: Single Occupancy BB: £75 per night Double Occupancy BB: £90 per night Single Occupancy BBD: £95 per night Double Occupancy BBD: £110 per night For further details please contact: Vanessa Windass, York Expert Workshops Coordinator Tel: +44 (0)1904 433666 Fax: +44 (0)1904 433644 e-mail: vaw1@york.ac.uk ========================================================================= JOBS ========================================================================= ALLERGAN, INC. Allergan, Inc., located in Irvine, California, is looking for a qualified individual to join their Pharmacoeconomic Strategy and Research team. See below for job summary and qualifications. For further information please contact Emilie Brannen at phone: (714)246-4590 or e-mail: brannen_emilie@allergan.com Title: Manager, Pharmacoeconomic Strategy and Research Company Profile: Allergan, Inc. headquartered in Irvine, California, is a technology driven, global health care company providing eye care and specialty pharmaceutical products worldwide. Allergan develops and commercializes products in the eye care pharmaceutical, ophthalmic surgical device, over-the-counter contact lens care, movement disorder, and dermatological markets that deliver value to our customers, satisfy unmet medical needs, and improve patients' lives. Incorporated in 1948, Allergan employs approximately 6,000 professionals around the world. Allergan is a pioneer in specialty pharmaceutical research, targeting products and technologies related to specific disease areas such as glaucoma, retinal disease, cataracts, dry eye, psoriasis, acne, photodamage, movement disorders, metabolic disease, and various types of cancer. With 1998 sales in excess of $1.25 billion, Allergan is an innovative leader in therapeutic and over-the-counter products that are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. Job Summary: With the objective of maximizing new product sales and meeting the requirements of formularies and regulatory agencies, the Manager, Global Pharmacoeconomic Strategy & Research is responsible for directing and managing the resources of marketing, R&D, and consultants to ensure design, approvals, conduct, direction, and dissemination of economic and quality of life research worldwide for assigned product areas. He/she is responsible for effectively communicating PE results, recommending appropriate strategies for use, and advising Regional Marketing staff regarding incorporation of PE data into pricing and reimbursement activities. He/she is also responsible for directing and managing activities to create a Global Pharmacoeconomic Strategy for assigned areas, as well as ensuring incorporation of strategy into Medical and Clinical Affairs to ensure commercial and scientific needs are met. Qualifications: Education and experience requires an advanced degree in pharmacoecomomics, business administration, social sciences, life sciences, quantitative analysis (or related), or a medical profession e.g., medical, pharmacy, or nursing, with seven to eleven years of total experience in the areas of global pharmaceutical marketing, marketing research, or clinical research in the pharmaceutical (or related) industry (at least three to four of which is in outcomes research (economic and quality of life). Knowledge of a foreign language and international experience is desirable. Advanced knowledge of pharmacoeconomic research concepts and issues, techniques and statistics, including computer software. Ability to use and effectively communicate the results of these tools in markets that differ in sophistication and need. Proven project management skills and ability to work effectively through others, with sensitivity to cultural differences To Apply: Please send Curriculum Vita to: Emile Brannen Human Resources Allergan, Inc. 2525 Dupont Drive PO Box 92623 Irvine, California 92623-9534 ------------------------------ BENCH INTERNATIONAL Director/Senior Director, Health Economics (Northeast): As part of the senior management team within the outcomes research division of a major pharmaceutical healthcare company, build and expand the health economics function. Serve as team leader, mentor and strategist with specific health economics expertise focused on applied health services research related to disease management programs and other health care interventions. Combine scientific expertise with business and management skills to support internal and external customers. Requires PhD or MD degree with substantive experience in health economics, managed care, disease management or pharmaceutical industry/consulting experience, and demonstrated ability to lead and participate directly in analytical research activities as well as excellent communication and presentation skills. Excellent compensation and benefits. Contact Cheri Buonaguidi at Bench International, Tel 310-854-9900, Fax 310-652-2081, Email cheri@benchinternational.com. Econometrician/Health Economics Strategist (Northeast): For global health economics group within a major pharmaceutical company, provide decision modeling, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, cost-benefit and cost-of-illness analyses. Assist senior management in making go/no-go decisions regarding compounds in drug development and use quantitative modeling skills and other tools to assist in developing pricing strategies and making revenue projections. PhD, MBA or graduate degree with focus on economics or operations research preferred. Excellent computer skills required. Outstanding opportunity for advancement. Contact Cathy Balin or Cheri Buonaguidi at Bench International, Tel 310-854-9900, Fax 310-652-2081, Email cbalin@benchinternational.com or cheri@benchinternational.com. Associate Director, Health Economics (Northeast): Use economic methodological expertise to help validate the effectiveness of disease management programs and strategies. Collaborate on project teams that conduct outcomes studies and large, complex database analyses for a nationally recognized pharmaceutical benefit management company. PhD with experience in health economics required. Managed care, disease management or pharmaceutical industry/consulting experience preferred. Demonstrated ability to lead and participate directly in analytical research activities required. Excellent advancement potential. Contact Cathy Balin at Bench International, Tel 310-854-9900, Fax 310-652-2081, Email cbalin@benchinternational.com. Director/Senior Director, Quality of Life (Northeast): Assume responsibility for formulating, managing and implementing economic evaluation programs and quality of life plans for pharmaceutical products in the licensing and R&D pipelines. Formulate and oversee the comprehensive strategies for economic evaluations including retrospective and prospective cost-effectiveness studies, QoL and cost-of-studies. MD or PhD with significant experience in QoL and instrument design required. Industry/consulting experience preferred. Comprehensive compensation package. Contact Cathy Balin at Bench International, Tel 310-854-9900, Fax 310-652-2081, Email cbalin@benchinternational.com. ------------------------------ THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA College of Health Professions Associate Dean for Research The College of Health Professions at the University of Florida seeks applications and nominations for the position of Associate Dean for Research. One of six Colleges in the Health Science Center at the University of Florida, the College of Health Professions is comprised of six academic departments (Clinical and Health Psychology, Communicative Disorders, Health Services Administration, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Counseling). The College has about 65 faculty members and 1000 students. It offers a wide range of educational programs, primarily at the graduate level. The Associate Dean for Research will be responsible for leading the College's research efforts. The tasks include (but are not limited to): articulating the research missions of the College; establishing and managing programs and procedures to support pursuit of the missions; facilitating collaborative research activities within the College; interfacing with other research programs in the Health Science Center and University; assisting the faculty in obtaining research funding, and providing support for the management of research projects. In addition to responsibilities as the Associate Dean for Research, the appointee will hold a tenured or tenure-track faculty position as Associate Professor or Professor in one of the College's academic departments. Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with experience. Applicants must have a doctoral degree and extensive experience with all aspects of the research endeavor as practiced in a major, public, comprehensive, research-intensive University. They will be a current participant in a significant, externally funded research program, and will be expected to maintain that participation. Documented success in both the administrative and the scientific aspects of research is essential. The anticipated starting date for this appointment is August 1, 1999. Applications (including a current Curriculum Vitae and the names of at least three references) or nominations should be submitted by April 20, 1999 to: R. Paul Duncan, Ph.D. Chair, Search Committee P.O. Box 100195 University of Florida Gainesville FL 32610 Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Institution. The search is being conducted in accordance with Florida's Government in the Sunshine Law. ------------------------------ UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER Readers in Economics (Two Posts) (Ref. A5261/GD/TH) 30,496 to 34,464 pounds pa Applicants should have an outstanding record of research achievement and a strong research agenda for the future. The posts are not restricted to any particular field of economics. Available from 1 September 1999. Lecturer A/B in Economics (Ref. A5262/GD/TH) 16,655 to 29,048 pounds pa Applicants should have a good research record showing a developing reputation, together with a commitment to high quality teaching. The post is not restricted to any particular field of economics. Available from 1 September 1999. Further particulars and application forms are available from the Department's web site (www.le.ac.uk/economics), or, by quoting the appropriate reference, from the Personnel Office (Appointments), University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH. Telephone (0116) 252 2439. Applications, on the form provided, together with the names and addresses of three persons to whom reference may be made, should be forwarded to reach the Personnel Office (Academic Appointments) not later than 16th April 1999. Informal enquiries can be addressed to Ian Bradley (tel. +44 (0)116 252 2901, email. igb@le.ac.uk) ------------------------------ UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA Assistant or Associate Professor Pharmaceutical Policy and Evaluative Sciences School of Pharmacy University of North Carolina CB 7360, Beard Hall Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360 The Division of Pharmaceutical Policy and Evaluative Sciences offers a 12-month tenure track position for an individual with a particular interest and expertise in economic evaluations of pharmaceutical technologies, programs or services and econometric modeling. The successful applicant should have a Ph.D. in an area of study which includes pharmaceutical economics, health economics or a closely related field. Knowledge of drug-related policy issues, analysis skills, and related research or work experience in the area of technology assessment and pharmaceutically related outcomes research is preferred. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with colleagues in the Division and the School of Public Health in establishing a program of extramural research, preparing research proposals, and conducting studies compatible with the research aims of the Division. It is expected that the successful applicant will also be an active participant in the Division's graduate instructional program and the School's professional degree program. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. Interested persons should send a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, and letters of recommendation from at least four individuals familiar with the applicant's background to: Abraham G. Hartzema, Ph.D. Chair, Search Committee Professor & Director, Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research (CePOR) School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill NC 27599-7360 USA bram_hartzema@unc.edu Phone: (919) 962-0080 The University of North Carolina is an equal opportunity employer. ------------------------------ UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto Applications are invited for a tenure track Assistant Professor position in the area of outcomes research. Candidates should have a PhD as well as training and experience in health database research. Preference will be given to individuals with a background in epidemiology; however, individuals with a background in health economics, health administration, community health, and marketing will also be seriously considered. The successful applicant will be expected to establish an independent research program and supervise graduate students. This individual will join a developing group of four social and administrative pharmacy faculty whose research interests include pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, health services/programs evaluation, health policy, and behavioral decision making. Opportunities exist for collaborative research with individuals in areas such as health administration, clinical pharmacology, clinical epidemiology, health economics, health promotion, and addiction studies. Teaching responsibilities will include instruction in undergraduate and graduate pharmacy courses. Applicants should submit a current curriculum vitae, reprints of important publications, an outline of future research interests and, arrange to have three letters of reference sent to: Dr. K. Wayne Hindmarsh, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy University of Toronto 19 Russell Street Toronto ON M5S 2S2 Canada 416-978-2880 416-978-8511 fax wayne.hindmarsh@utoronto.ca Applications will be considered by the Faculty, beginning June 1, 1999. In accordance with its Employment Equity Policy, the University of Toronto encourages applications from qualified women and men, members of visible minorities, aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities. ------------------------------ WORLD BANK Contact: hsaxenian@worldbank.org for information. Senior/Principal Health Economist (National Health Accounts & Health Care Financing) Grade Range: 24-25, Div: HDNHE, Supervisor: Helen Saxenian (hsaxenian@worldbank.org) Time Frame: Open-ended. Language Preference: Spanish (desirable); French (desirable). BACKGROUND The HNP anchor team of the Human Development Network seeks a Senior/Principal Health Economist to provide leadership to the Bank in the development of national health accounts data in our client countries and on broader health care financing issues. Reliable data on national health expenditure and financing of health systems (including, public and private expenditures, and sector expenditures) are essential for enhancing the Bank's technical assistance and policy advice on the feasibility and sustainability of health projects and health system reform initiatives. The last comprehensive effort to collect international comparable data on health care expenditure and financing, for the period 1994 through 1996, was developed within the framework of the World Bank?s 1997 Sector Strategy Paper for Health, Nutrition and Population. Current updates are derived mainly from a limited number of Bank-supported country-specific, analytical studies, and regional and national estimates sponsored by other international organizations, bilateral agencies, national governments, and research institutions. Differences in approaches, concepts, classifications, and estimation procedures limit the use of these results for meaningful comparisons of national health care expenditure and financing across countries. In the policy area, much work has already been done on revenue collection and the source of health care financing. Although, thus far, comparatively less work has been done to understand the incentives and institutional dimensions of provider payment systems and contracting agencies. KEY FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES Under the overall guidance of the HNP Sector Board and the direct supervision of the Sector Leader, HNP Network Operations, the Senior/Principal Health Economist will be responsible for the Bank's methodological and statistical work in the area of National Health Accounts. He/she will focus on the collection of international comparable data on national health care expenditures and financing, and on providing assistance in the collection of economic and financial data to support the Bank?s analytical and operational work. The selected candidate will also work in tandem with the Lead Economist for HNP on other priority health financing tasks and with the head of the Thematic Group on HNP Indicators. One of the first major policy tasks is to coordinate the Bank's upcoming policy review of provider payment systems and institutional arrangements for purchasing agencies. Principal Responsibilities National Health Accounts (NHA) . Advance the World Bank's leadership role in the development of methods, approaches, and actual collection of internationally comparable data on national health care expenditures and financing, as well as in promoting innovative, empirically-based research on economic issues of health and health care systems. Conceptualize and develop tools/applications to employ NHA data in health financing policy analysis and evaluation. . Work closely with international organizations (UN,OECD, WHO, IMF, ILO), bilateral agencies, national governments, and leading research institutions in supporting the development of NHA in low- and middle-income countries. . Inform the HNP Board Members, Thematic Groups, and Bank staff on the latest developments in the area of health accounts, as well as to promote a greater participation by Bank staff in the dialogue surrounding the conceptual, methodological and policy issues, and to support data collection for NHA within Bank projects. . Advise on the contents, and coordinate the updating of the national health care expenditure and financing indicators contained in the World Bank Database and official publications, World Development Indicators, World Development Report, etc. . Assist in the design, and implement a strategy for dissemination of information (including, organizing international expert meetings, staff development training programs, EDI Flagship training, production of publications and other inputs to the Bank's knowledge bank in this area) to bring Bank staff up-to-date, as well as client countries, on the practical applications and policy uses of the empirical results from various NHA analytical frameworks. Health Care Financing Policy Work . Initially, the incumbent would coordinate the Bank's policy and analytical work on provider payment systems, drawing on the earlier work on revenue collection and the ongoing work on organizational reform. . In setting about this work, the incumbent would need to collaborate closely with other parts of the Bank (DEC, PSD, and PSM) as well as outside agencies (WHO and ILO) which are undertaking parallel work in this area. . This work will require the coordination of several streams of work: detailed analytical studies and policy reviews of selected topics, penetrating research in specific areas where we have yet to attain full understanding of the incentive effects of provider payment systems in developing countries, and empirically-based case studies to illustrate how provider payment systems work in in-country settings. . Undertake technical assistance missions and policy dialogue with client countries when needed on both NHA and provider payment systems. SELECTION CRITERIA . Post-graduate degree in Economics with related training in Health Systems and Management. . At least 10 years experience working in the international field including sound experience in and knowledge of areas of work by different international organization in the collection of internationally comparable social and economic data, social expenditures, government finance statistics, household surveys, and national accounts; experience in the compilation of internationally comparable data, and the analysis of health care expenditure and financing data is a plus. . Comprehensive knowledge of health economics and health financing issues as they apply to the Bank's analytical and operational work. . Ability to deal with complex issues in a professional manner, and exercise judgement in dealing with sensitive issues. . Familiarity with health financing methodologies and the political economy of health care financing reforms. . Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to establish strong working relationships with other UN agencies, bilateral agencies, national governments, and training and research institutions. . Team-player. Ability to work with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams. . Excellent oral and written communication skills. . Strong supervisory and management skills. ========================================================================= CONFERENCES ========================================================================= THE WISCONSIN NETWORK FOR HEALTH POLICY RESEARCH PRESENTS... A Day with ALAN WILLIAMS University of York York England April 26-27, 1999 The Edgewater Hotel 666 Wisconsin Avenue Madison, Wisconsin 53701 Alan Williams is one the world's most influential health economists. He has made seminal contributions on Quality Adjusted Life Years, need for health as capacity to benefit, fair innings and intergenerational equity and ethical issues in medicine and policy. Much of his thinking provides contrarian guidance for our current health care dilemmas, but perhaps is not fully appreciated by many American academics and policy makers. We offer a rare opportunity to interact with him in an interactive chat format. Registration Fee is $350 and must be received to hold your reservation. ***NOTE: Original registration deadline was April 1, but space is still *** available, so act quickly. REGISTRATION will be limited to 50 on a first-come first-served basis. Fee includes seminar expenses, breakfast, coffee breaks and reception, and a copy of Being Reasonable about Economics of Health: Selected Essays by Alan Williams, Elgar Press, 1997. This volume is a limited edition and sells for $90.00. A limited number of hotels rooms at the Edgewater will be available at a rate of $129.00 for lakeview and $89.00 for non-lakeview. Please call 608-256-9071 or 1-800-922-5512 before April 1 to make your reservation. To Register: See our WEB site www.medsch.wisc.edu/prevmed/network or contact: Judy Knutson WI NETWORK FOR HEALTH POLICY RESEARCH WARF Office Building 610 Walnut Street Madison, WI 53705-2397 Phone: 608-263-6294 Fax: 608-262-6404 Email: jaknutso@facstaff.wisc.edu ------------------------------ IFS HEALTH ECONOMICS SEMINAR FRIDAY 7 MAY THE INSTITUTE FOR FISCAL STUDIES, 7 RIDGMOUNT STREET, LONDON WC1E Ridgmount Street is located between Gower Street & Tottenham Court Road 14.30 Hugh Gravelle and Matthew Sutton (University of York) "Explaining variations in practice admission rates: are eyes, hips and knees rationed by time, distance and money prices?" 15.30 Coffee/Tea 16.00 Costas Meghir (UCL & IFS) "Childhood income and adult health" To help us cater for about the right number, please advise Frank Windmeijer by e-mail if you will be attending the seminar, which is free of charge. mailto:f.windmeijer@ifs.org.uk ------------------------------ HEALTH ECONOMICS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA CONFERENCE This is a one day conference on 9 April 1999 in Nottingham, UK entitled; 'Health economics of schizophrenia- the impact of new treatments and service models' There will be sessions on economic evaluations of new drug and psychological treatments for schizophrenia, multiple perspectives on rationing expensive treatments and integrating treatments into mental health services. we have a variety of well-known speakers including psychiatrists, health economists, and representatives from primary care (GP), public health and the carer/user groups. all the details, including application forms, can be found on; www.nottingham.ac.uk/psychiatry/hes.htm ========================================================================= FORTHCOMING ARTICLES ========================================================================= JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS Vol./Iss. : 18 / 3 -- June 1999 "Equity in the finance of health care: some further international comparisons" Wagstaff, Adam "The redistributive effect of health care finance in twelve OECD countries" van Doorslaer, Eddy "Capitation contracts: access and quality" Gravelle, Hugh "The irrelevance of inference: a decision-making approach to the stochastic evaluation of health care technologies" Claxton, Karl "On the use of survival analysis techniques to estimate medical care costs" Etzioni, Ruth D. "On aggregating QALYs: a comment on Dolan" Johannesson, Magnus "Drawing a veil over the measurement of social welfare---a reply to Johannesson" Dolan, Paul ------------------------------ HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, 33(6): February 1999 Escarce, Jose J., Feldman, Harold I. "Cost Functions for Dialysis Facilities and the Quality of Dialysis" Hirth, Richard A., Held, Philip J., Dor, Avi "Practice Patterns, Case Mix, Medicare Payment Policy, and Dialysis Facility Costs" Cromwell, David M., Bass, Eric B., Moore, Richard D. "Can Restrictions on Reimbursement for Anti-Ulcer Drugs Decrease Medicaid Pharmacy Costs Without Increasing Hospitalizations" Crystal, Stephen, Lo Sasso, Anthony T., Sambamoorthi, Usha "Incidence and Duration of Hospitalizations Among Persons with AIDS: An Event History Approach" Gold, Marsha "Making Medicaid Managed Care Research Relevant" Madden, Carolyn W. "Excess Capacity: Markets, Regulation, and Values" Friedman, Bernard "Commentary: Excess Capacity, a Commentary on Markets, Regulation, and Values" Bazzoli, Gloria J., Shortell, Stephen M., Kralovec, Peter "A Taxonomy of Health Networks and Systems: Bringing Order Out of Chaos" Luke, Roice D., Wholey, Douglas R. "Commentary: On 'A Taxonomy of Healthcare Networks and Systems: Bringing Order Out of Chaos'" Lamers, Leida M. "Risk-Adjusted Capitation Based on the Diagnostic Cost Group Model: An Empirical Evaluation with Health Survey Information" Zinn, Jacqueline S., Mor, Vincent, Brannon, Diane "Organizational and Environmental Factors Associated with Nursing Home Participation in Managed Care" ========================================================================= SUBSCRIPTION AND MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ========================================================================= A subscription to iHEA NEWS is included as a benefit of membership in iHEA. iHEA has been formed to increase communication among health economists, foster a higher standard of debate in the application of economics to health and health care systems, and assist young researchers at the start of their careers. Activities of the association include: - Present the annual "Kenneth J. Arrow Award for Best Paper in Health Economics." - Hold biennial conferences, the first May 19-23, 1996 in Vancouver, B.C. (640 delegates attended), and the second in June 6-9 1999 at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the third 2001 at CHE, York, England. - Assist in the distribution of Journal of Health Economics and Health Economics, and provide both publications at discounts to members. - Publish a biannual newsletter, HEAL (Health Economics Analysis Letters), and a monthly electronic newsletter, iHEA NEWS listing upcoming meetings, recent paper presentations, jobs, and professional commentary. - Publish a series of books in health economics and a World Directory of Health Economists listing individuals and organizations. - Assist in the distribution of eHEL, electronic Health Economics Letters, an electronic journal with internet dissemination and peer-review of economic studies of policy, effectiveness, technology, market structures and pharmaceuticals around the world. The association will be involved in organizing other conferences and sessions at affiliated meetings, obtaining peer-reviewers for journals and grants, and similar professional activities. The founding officers are: Director, Thomas Getzen, Temple University; President, Joseph Newhouse, Harvard University; Vice-President: Alan Maynard, University of York; Vice-President, Mark Pauly, University of Pennsylvania; Secretary, Charles Hall, Temple University; Program Chair, Morris Barer, University of British Columbia; Treasurer, Michael Morrisey, University of Alabama-Birmingham. Other sponsoring universities and organizations include Abt Associates, Inc.; American Medical Association; Barents Group, LLC; The MEDSTAT Group, Inc.; RAND Corporation; John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.; Carnegie Mellon University; Harvard University; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; University of Alabama at Birmingham; University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign; University of Pennsylvania; University of Michigan; VA Management Science Group; Mustard Seed Inc., and U.S. Healthcare Corporation. To join as a member of iHEA, fill in the form below and send in by e-mail or fax. For further information please contact: Bill Swan Associate Director - International Health Economics Association 3rd Floor, Abramsky Hall, Queen's University Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 CANADA (613) 533-6000 x 74871 Tel (613) 533-6353 Fax swanb@post.queensu.ca ___________cut___cut______cut_____cut______cut____cut______cut__________ __________________________________________________ International Health Economics Association (iHEA) Application for Membership __________________________________________________ Fill in the requested information and return to Bill Swan at swanb@post.queensu.ca or fax (613) 533-6353 This is a [ ] New Membership [ ] Renewal [ ] Mr. [ ] Ms. [ ] Dr. [ ] Prof. First name (and initials): Nickname: Last name: Degree(s): Current Position: Organization: Department: Mailing Address: This is my [ ] Office [ ] Home address. Other Affiliations (optional): Office Phone (include country code): Ext: Fax: Home Phone (optional): E-mail Address: Web Page Address: List up to 8 keywords indicating your primary interests: Any additional information to be listed with your directory listing: Do you wish to have a listing in our membership directory? [ ] Yes [ ] No Listing _____________________________________________________ NOTE: iHEA cannot guarantee the security of credit card information sent by e-mail. If you are concerned about Internet security, simply indicate the amount and type of charges below and mail or fax your payment separately. Dues: [ ] $35 US 1998 Membership in iHEA Note: You must join as a member to receive discounted subscription rates. [ ] $85 US Personal subscription to Health Economics for 1999, Volume 8. [ ] $80 US Personal subscription to Journal of Health Economics for 1999, Volume 18. [ ] Total If you are paying with credit card, please print the form below, and send it by mail or fax to Bill Swan at the address listed below ___________________________________________________ [ ] Visa [ ] MasterCard [ ] cheque payable to "iHEA" in $US Cheques and money orders must be drawn on a US institution. However, international money orders are no longer acceptable regardless of currency. Card Number: Expiry Date: Signature: Date: Fax or mail to Bill Swan Associate Director - International Health Economics Association 3rd Floor, Abramsky Hall, Queen's University Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 CANADA (613) 533-6675 Tel (613) 533-6353 Fax swanb@post.queensu.ca iHEA Web Site: http://www.healtheconomics.org/ _______________________________________________________________________ iHEA is a charitable 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.