Return on Investment and Value Research in Neuropsychology: A Call to Arms

There is substantial empirical evidence to support the clinical value of neuropsychological evaluation and the incremental value of neuropsychological assessment, suggesting such evaluation is beneficial in the prediction and management of clinical outcomes. However, in the cost-conscious and evolving era of healthcare reform, neuropsychologists must also establish the economic value, or return on investment, of their services. There is already a modest body of literature that demonstrates the economic benefits of neuropsychological evaluation, which is reviewed in the current paper. Neuropsychologists will need to be able to communicate, and develop evidence of, economic value of their services; thus, this paper also discusses common concepts, terms, and models used in healthcare valuation studies. Finally, neuropsychologists are urged to incorporate these financial concepts in their clinical practice and research.