Start-up and incremental practice expenses for behavior change interventions in primary care.
Am J Prev Med
; 35(5 Suppl): S423-30, 2008 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18929990
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
If behavior-change services are to be offered routinely in primary care practices, providers must be appropriately compensated. Estimating what is spent by practices in providing such services is a critical component of establishing appropriate payment and was the objective of this study.METHODS:
In-practice expenditure data were collected for ten different interventions, using a standardized instrument in 29 practices nested in ten practice-based research networks across the U.S. during 2006-2007. The data were analyzed using standard templates to create credible estimates of the expenses incurred for both the start-up period and the implementation phase of the interventions.RESULTS:
Average monthly start-up expenses were $1860 per practice (SE=$455). Most start-up expenditures were for staff training. Average monthly incremental costs were $58 ($15 for provision of direct care [SE=$5]; $43 in overhead [SE=$17]) per patient participant. The bulk of the intervention expenditures was spent on the recruitment and screening of patient participants.CONCLUSIONS:
Primary care practices must spend money to address their patients' unhealthy behaviors--at least $1860 to initiate systematic approaches and $58 monthly per participating patient to implement the approaches routinely. Until primary care payment systems incorporate these expenses, it is unlikely that these services will be readily available.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Atenção Primária à Saúde
/
Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde
/
Custos de Cuidados de Saúde
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article