ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to evaluate the technical aspects of the proposal, particularly in light of an alternative approach known as the General Health Policy Model. It focuses on the definition of health outcome and net health benefit. The chapter explores the feasibility of a general conceptualization of these outcomes. One of the most difficult problems in creating guidelines is in estimating the effects of treatment. This is the first form of judgment required to create a policy model. The Model Proposal uses panels to evaluate which aspects of treatment produce net health benefit. However, the emphasis is on judging the components of the clinical decision rather than on the definition of outcome. Clinical judgment tends to provide the most optimistic view of likely treatment benefits. One of the concerns about the use of clinical judgment is the fear that some physicians will apply "gaming" strategies in order to obtain reimbursement for their specialty.
