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Background: Economic evaluations are being conducted with increasing frequency in the maternity care setting, with more randomized controlled trials containing a health economic component. Key emerging criticisms of economic evaluation in maternity care are lack of robust data collection and measurement, inconsistencies in methodology, and lack of adherence to reporting guidelines. Methods: This article provides a guide to the design of economic evaluations alongside clinical trials in maternal health. We include economic concepts and considerations for the maternity setting and provide examples from the UK and Australia. Results: There are many important considerations for the design of economic evaluations alongside clinical trials. To be effective, researchers must select types of economic evaluation, which align with their study objectives; choose an appropriate evaluation perspective, time horizon, and discount rate; and identify accurate ways to measure and evaluate health outcomes and costs. Discussion: This guide is written for noneconomists and can be used for designing economic evaluations to be conducted as a part of clinical trials. We seek to improve the quality, consistency, and transparency of economic evaluations in maternal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Value based healthcare beyond the clinical domain is the focus of this case study. We share NSW Health's experiences in achieving value through a focus on outcomes in non-clinical and clinical support services using examples that demonstrate key aspects across the commissioning cycle. These include: the importance of stakeholder engagement in the planning phase to later success; the critical role of non-clinical services in patient experience; the opportunity to facilitate value by introducing new approaches in business areas such as procurement; and the role of clinical supports such as digital enablement to facilitate outcome-focussed clinical models. Applying a value lens to non-clinical services can increase the potential benefits to patients, clinicians and the system. What is known about the topic? Value based healthcare is a way of making transparent and equitable decisions about resource allocation to deliver better outcomes for individuals, health services and the system. What does this paper add? This paper reflects on the opportunity to deliver value based healthcare beyond clinical models of care, including in non-clinical and clinical support services, using a commissioning approach. What are the implications for practitioners? The learnings shared through the case studies presented can be applied by practitioners to their own projects to support value based approaches across all aspects of health care. This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-based Healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]