Cost-effectiveness analyses began to appear in medical journals more than 40 years ago and have proliferated greatly since then. Methodologic standards were established 20 years ago and have been recently updated.1 Economic considerations are just now being introduced into clinical practice guidelines.2 The field of economic evaluation of health interventions is maturing, but observers may rightfully ask: what is the point of all these studies? Why should we do them in the first place, and how can we use the results?