Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #120210

Amanda A. Honeycutt, PhD, Division for Health Services and Social Policy Research, Health Economics and Financing, RTI, 2951 Flowers Road South, Suite 119, Atlanta, GA 30341, (770) 234-5014, honeycutt@rti.org and Joel E. Segel, BA, Public Health Economics Program, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

Cost-of-illness (COI) studies are useful for quantifying the burden of disease(s), how the burden has changed over time, and policies that are needed to prepare for those changes. This paper will provide an overview of several commonly used approaches for estimating COI, including the strengths and weaknesses of each. For example, we will describe differences between prevalence-based and incidence-based approaches and between alternative methods for allocating costs to specific diseases or risk factors. Possible data sources for estimating COI, such as the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey or Medicare or Medicaid claims data, will also be discussed. We will consider the feasibility of obtaining and using each data source, and we will discuss the importance of selecting approaches and data sources that policy makers believe can produce credible estimates.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe alternative approaches for conducting COI.
• Identify possible sources of data for conducting COI studies.
• Articulate pros and cons of using alternative approaches and data sources for COI.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation