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Mathematical programming for the efficient allocation of health care resources

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6296(96)00493-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Previous discussions of methods for the efficient allocation of health care resources subject to a budget constraint have relied on unnecessarily restrictive assumptions. This paper makes use of established optimization techniques to demonstrate that a general mathematical programming framework can accommodate much more complex information regarding returns to scale, partial and complete indivisibility and program interdependence. Methods are also presented for incorporating ethical constraints into the resource allocation process, including explicit identification of the cost of equity.

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We thank Magnus Johannesson, Edward Kaplan, Milton Weinstein and two anonymous referees for helpful comments on an earlier draft. The authors alone are responsible for any remaining errors. Aaron Stinnett acknowledges financial support from a National Library of Medicine Medical Informatics Training Grant; both authors acknowledge support from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis.

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