Type of Project: Funded project Joint project Study
Efficiency and Justice in the System of Rehabilitation - or: The Relationship between Economic Evaluation, Ethical Principles, and Resource Allocation

Background: Under the framework of budgeting, economic aspects (such as those developed by the AG Reha- Ökonomie) are becoming increasingly important for allocation decisions in rehabilitation. At the same time, the allocation of funds should meet ethical requirements. The rehabilitation system should be "efficient" and "fair". So far, the relationship between economic evaluation, ethical principles and resource allocation in rehabilitation has not been systematically investigated in Germany. Aims and objectives: The aim of this project is to identify relationships and areas of tension between empirical/social science, health economics and ethical aspects of resource allocation in rehabilitation and to initiate a substantive discourse with decision-makers in the rehabilitation system on this complex of issues. To this end, the disciplinary and methodological foundations are to be laid in a first project phase and a fundamental interdisciplinary analysis of the relationship between the three perspectives is to be carried out. The results obtained are to be discussed with decision-makers in a workshop and condensed into specific topics and questions in a problem-oriented manner. In addition, a questionnaire for an expert survey will be developed and tested. In a second project phase, the topics and issues identified are to be addressed in a results-oriented manner on the basis of in-depth interdisciplinary analyses and with the inclusion of expert opinions collected. The results are to be discussed in a further workshop. Study design: Conceptual work, a semi-standardized survey of decision-makers and two structured workshops will be carried out with the collaboration of an interdisciplinary working group on "Ethics in Rehabilitation". Expected results: A study on the relationship between empirical/social science, economic and ethical aspects in rehabilitation will be developed and published. It complements and follows in particular the recommendations on health economic evaluation of the AG Reha-Ökonomie. Furthermore, it initiates a dialogue with and among decision makers and thereby also stimulates a practical implementation of the results. Research Network Bavaria