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A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION

An Examination of DRG 475

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2001

Diane M. Dewar
Affiliation:
State University of New York at Albany
James Lambrinos
Affiliation:
Union College
Rajiv Mallick
Affiliation:
Wyeth-Ayerst Research
Yuhong Zhong
Affiliation:
PPD Development, Inc.

Abstract

Objective: An economic evaluation of the resources used for mechanically ventilated patients using various measures for the benefits of extending life.

Methods: Regression analysis is applied to New York State discharge data for patients under DRG 475 during 1992–96 to predict age-specific survival rates and payments per life saved. Sensitivity analysis is used to compare benefits of extending life associated with different economic values of life with the payments per life saved at each age.

Results: Payments per life saved decreased over time, primarily due to reduced reimbursements. Payments exceeded the age-adjusted and the quality-of-life and age-adjusted benefits for all economic values of life at ages 90 and older.

Conclusions: Since the benefits of extending life associated with DRG 475 exceed the payments per life saved at most ages, economic evaluations may be best applied with psychosocial evaluations to allocate resources more ethically.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press

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