An approach to allocating limited health resources.

This paper considers the effectiveness of the Oregon Health Plan method for allocating limited health resources. The Plan is narrow in scope and leaves many difficult questions unanswered. Criteria for developing a comprehensive plan for allocating limited health resources are discussed. It is suggested that when a resource is scarce, any allocation decision implicitly or explicitly must reflect the notion of social worth. The determination of social worth of a patient is outlined. This paper supports the notion of allocating medical dollars on the concept of worth.