Health care research and policy studies.

Health economic studies in rheumatology have never been of greater policy importance, but unfortunately there are only a small number of researchers examining issues in this area. This paper reviews studies relating to economics and rheumatology as well as some important methodologic issues relating to conducting such studies. The topics covered include cost-identification analysis, physician variation, specialty versus subspecialty care, utility assessment, decision analysis, quality of life, time preferences and discounting, and sensitivity analysis. More than ever, now is the time to provide policy makers with evidence that rheumatologists provide medical care that is not only the finest from a medical perspective but the most cost effective from society's perspective.