In a cost-minimization analysis, which statement is true?

• A. Outcomes are assumed to be equal across options.
• B. Costs are ignored.
• C. The analysis requires QALYs.
• D. Outcomes are always better for the new intervention.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that outcomes are assumed to be the same across options, which lets the analysis focus solely on cost. When effectiveness is proven to be equivalent, the cheaper option is preferred because it delivers the same result at a lower total cost. If outcomes aren’t truly equal, cost-minimization isn’t appropriate—you’d need a framework that accounts for differences in effectiveness, like cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analysis. Costs aren’t ignored in this approach; they’re the basis for choosing among options once equivalence is established. QALYs come from analyses that measure utility and quality of life, which are part of cost-utility analyses, not CMA. And CMA doesn’t assume the new intervention yields better outcomes; it assumes outcomes are equal and compares costs instead.