Determining the magnitude of the burden of diseases and health disorders on the United States population is a high priority for health policy-makers. Conditions, such as malignant neoplasms and injuries related to orofacial trauma, contribute to adverse oral health. The objective of this study was to conduct an analysis of the existing electronic sources of health data in order to estimate the cost of illness associated with a set of diseases and disorders relevant to oral health, both in terms of numbers of individuals affected and medical costs. Method: Four national and two state data systems were used to estimate the number and medical costs of selected orofacial conditions. Each of these data systems provided an estimate for a component of the cost model. Several years of data and/or ICD codes were combined to increase the reliability of the estimates. We compared the estimates from our methods with cost estimates of other health conditions. Results: As expected large variations were observed in terms of the number of cases, the average medical cost per case, and the total annual medical costs of all cases. For example, the median average medical cost per case was approximately $1055 and the range was $88 to $44,000. Total annual medical costs exceeded $13 billion dollars for all conditions combined. Conclusion: Policy-makers can use this cost model to compare the impact of different conditions and to allocate appropriate health resources.
Learning Objectives: Particpants will be able to evaluate:
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Oral Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.