The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49143

Andrew T. Sumner, ScD and Patricia Ketsche, PhD. Institute of Health Administration, Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404/651-2996, asumner@gsu.edu

Cost-effectiveness of Treatment Modalities for End-Stage Renal Disease

End-stage renal disease can present serious medical and emotional challenges for individuals, and the cumulative monetary and quality of life impact of end-stage renal disease on the population are remarkable. Not only do individuals value alternative treatment modalities differently, but the total costs and life expectancy of the population for the modalities are significantly different. An important public policy question is whether the reimbursement of specified treatment modalities promotes incentives of one modality relative to others.

End-stage renal disease can rapidly exhaust the resources of those needing care, and some have considered coverage for such diseases as a first step toward national health insurance. Federal and state expenditures related to end-stage renal disease have risen sharply in recent years, and future estimates are so large that they will no doubt prompt difficult policy discussions soon. Important to this policy discussion are the costs and life expectancy facing patients undergoing alternative treatment modalities, the incentives for choosing a modality due to differing reimbursement, and the cumulative effect on population costs and life-years. To provide future estimates of total costs and life expectancy of the population, the predicted experiences of cohorts of ESRD patients have been simulated over time. These results should be of interest not only to patients and public health officials, but also to practicing physicians whose treatment regimens may be influenced by federal and state policies and reimbursements.

Learning Objectives:

• The objective of this presentation is for participants to understand a method by which the costs and life expectancy for end-stage treatment modalities can be evaluated.

Keywords: Cost Issues, Health Care Reform

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.