OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were (a) to perform a systematic literature review to identify existing models for cost-effectiveness analysis of disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis and (b) to develop and test a method for the selection of a model that is transferable to the Dutch healthcare setting by simple adaptation.  METHODS: We searched Medline and Embase to identify relevant studies in the English language between 1-1-2002 and 31-8-2012. For studies that met the inclusion criteria, we applied a 3-step approach in model selection. First, models that did not meet all minimal methodological requirements based on the OMERACT criteria were excluded. Second, the models were assessed based on their fit when transferred to the Dutch health care setting. Transferability factors as published by Welte et al., except for those that were deemed transferable by simple adaptation, were used for this ranking procedure. Finally, the remaining models underwent a general quality check using the Philips checklist. Models showing good fit and high quality were considered to be transferable to the Dutch healthcare setting using simple adaptation.  RESULTS: The systematic literature search resulted in 498 papers, which included 33 unique health economic models. Only six models passed the OMERACT methodological requirements. Two of these models had imperfect transferability fit according to Welte. The remaining four models were, according to Philips, of good quality and were expected to be transferable by a simple adaptation. CONCLUSIONS: This study introduces a stepwise approach to the identification and selection of health economic models that are transferable by a simple adaptation. This approach can be applied in various therapeutic areas, provided that the minimal methodological requirements are defined accordingly. Availability of health economic models coupled with structured model selection could improve the efficiency, quality and comparability of health economic evaluations.