A ‘reference case’ is used by some health technology assessment bodies to summarise their guidance to those making and assessing submissions for reimbursement. The reference case gives a formal statement of accepted methods and assumptions underpinning analyses to which submissions should conform. The purpose is to ensure a level of consistency between submissions and assessments of evidence. The UK NICE reference case (for technology appraisals) includes statements on defining the decision problem, choice of comparator, perspective, time horizon and discounting, sources of data, preferred type of economic evaluation. Non-reference case methods and analyses are usually permitted, but a justification for the deviation from the reference case is required.
How to cite: Reference Case [online]. (2016). York; York Health Economics Consortium; 2016. https://yhec.co.uk/glossary/reference-case/