Description
Measure an outcome's signed time offset from a supplied QALY discount origin.
Health-economic accounting distinguishes evaluation perspective, reference years, utility tariffs, timing and allocated costs. Missing resource use differs from measured zero, and a caller-supplied weight differs from a validated model correction. One cost or budget contribution does not establish cost effectiveness or an appropriate allocation of care.
Measure an outcome's signed time offset from a supplied QALY discount origin.
When to use this tool
Use QALY Discount Reference Time Offset when checking the stated supplied health-economic record, timing or allocation convention.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter discountOriginYears, outcomeTimeYears. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read signedGap. Use the output convention below.
Return outcomeTimeYears-discountOriginYears as signedGap in years.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| discountOriginYears | Discount Origin Years | Required. Finite number. |
| outcomeTimeYears | Outcome Time Years | Required. Finite number. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| signedGap | Outcome time minus discount origin in years; no discount factor applied. | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"discountOriginYears": 12,
"outcomeTimeYears": 17
},
"output": {
"signedGap": 5
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- This determines a reference-time offset only; it does not apply a discount rate, calculate QALYs or choose a suitable origin.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use a complete justified economic model, verified sources and qualified health-economic/financial assessment for real policy or care-allocation decisions.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Utility Observation Death Boundary Tag
Check an observation's time against a supplied death boundary and equality convention.
- Utility Discount One Year Factor Tool
Calculate utility discount one year factor from explicit caller-supplied inputs.