Conway KM, Grosse SD, Ouyang L, Street N, Romitti PA. Direct costs of adhering to selected Duchenne muscular dystrophy care considerations: estimates from a Midwestern state.
Muscle Nerve 2022;
65:574-580. [PMID:
35064961 PMCID:
PMC9109677 DOI:
10.1002/mus.27505]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIMS
The multidisciplinary Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) Care Considerations were developed to standardize care and improve outcomes. We provide cumulative cost estimates for selected key preventive (i.e., excluding new molecular therapies and acute care) elements of the care considerations in eight domains (neuromuscular, rehabilitation, respiratory, cardiac, orthopedic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, psychosocial management) independent of completeness of uptake or provision of non-preventive care.
METHODS
We used de-identified insurance claims data from a large Midwestern commercial health insurer during 2018. We used Current Procedural Terminology and National Drug codes to extract unit costs for clinical encounters representing key preventive elements of the DMD Care Considerations. We projected per-patient cumulative costs from ages 5 to 25 years for these elements by multiplying a schedule of recommended frequencies of preventive services by unit costs in 2018 US dollars.
RESULTS
Assuming a diagnosis at age 5 years, independent ambulation until age 11, and survival until age 25, we estimated 670 billable clinical events. The 20-year per-patient cumulative cost was $174,701 with prednisone ($2.3 million with deflazacort) and an expected total of $12,643 ($29,194) for out-of-pocket expenses associated with those events and medications.
DISCUSSION
Standardized monitoring of disease progression and treatments may reduce overall costs of illness. Costs associated with these services would be needed to quantify potential savings. Our approach demonstrates a method to estimate costs associated with implementation of preventive care schedules.
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