The Cost of After-Hour Electroencephalography.

Background and Objectives: High costs associated with after-hour electroencephalography (EEG) constitute a barrier for financially constrained hospitals to provide this neurodiagnostic procedure outside regular working hours. Our study aims to deepen our understanding of the cost elements involved in delivering EEG services during after-hours. Methods: We accessed publicly available data sets and created a cost model depending on 3 most commonly seen staffing scenarios: (1) technologist on-site, (2) technologist on-call from home, and (3) a hybrid of the two. Results: Cost of EEG depends on the volume of testing and the staffing plan. Within the various cost elements, labor cost of EEG technologists is the predominant expenditure, which varies across geographic regions and urban areas. Discussion: We provide a model to explain why access to EEGs during after-hours has a substantial expense. This model provides a cost calculator tool (made available as part of this publication in eAppendix 1, links.lww.com/CPJ/A513) to estimate the cost of EEG platform based on site-specific staffing scenarios and annual volume.

Trends in American Indian/Alaskan native self-reported stroke prevalence and associated modifiable risk factors in the United States from 2011-2021.

BACKGROUND: Stroke prevalence varies by race/ethnicity, as do the risk factors that elevate the risk of stroke. Prior analyses have suggested that American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) have higher rates of stroke and vascular risk factors. METHODS: We included biyearly data from the 2011-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys of adults (age ≥18) in the United States. We describe survey-weighted prevalence of stroke per self-report by race and ethnicity. In patients with self-reported stroke (SRS), we also describe the prevalence of modifiable vascular risk factors. RESULTS: The weighted number of U.S. participants represented in BRFSS surveys increased from 237,486,646 in 2011 to 245,350,089 in 2021. SRS prevalence increased from 2.9% in 2011 to 3.3% in 2021 (p<0.001). Amongst all race/ethnicity groups, the prevalence of stroke was highest in AI/AN at 5.4% and 5.6% in 2011 and 2021, compared to 3.0% and 3.4% for White adults (p<0.001). AI/AN with SRS were also the most likely to have four or more vascular risk factors in both 2011 and 2021 at 23.9% and 26.4% compared to 18.2% and 19.6% in White adults (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: From 2011-2021 in the United States, AI/AN consistently had the highest prevalence of self-reported stroke and highest overall burden of modifiable vascular risk factors. This persistent health disparity leaves AI/AN more susceptible to both incident and recurrent stroke.

Value of Information Analysis of a Web-Based Self-Management Intervention for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Objective: Technology-based programs can be cost-effective in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, cost-effectiveness estimates always contain some uncertainty, and decisions based upon them carry some risk. We conducted a value of information (VOI) analysis to estimate the value of additional research of a web-based self-management intervention for COPD to reduce the costs associated with uncertainty. Methods: We used a 10,000-iteration cost-effectiveness model from the health care payer perspective to calculate the expected value of perfect information (EVPI) at the patient- and population-level. An opportunity loss was incurred when the web-based intervention did not produce a greater net monetary benefit than usual care in an iteration. We calculated the probability of opportunity loss and magnitude of opportunity costs as a function of baseline health utility. We aggregated opportunity costs over the projected incident population of inpatient COPD patients over 10 years and estimated it as a function of the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold. Costs are in 2022 U.S. Dollars. Results: Opportunity losses were found in 22.7% of the iterations. The EVPIpatient was $78 per patient (95% confidence interval: $75-$82). The probability that the intervention was the optimal strategy varied across baseline health utilities. The EVPIpopulation was $506,666,882 over 10 years for a WTP of $50,000. Conclusions: Research estimated to cost up to $500 million would be warranted to reduce uncertainty. Future research could focus on identifying the impact of baseline health utilities to maximize the cost savings of the intervention. Other considerations for future research priorities include implementation efforts for technology-based interventions.

Economic review of point-of-care EEG.

Aims: Point-of-care electroencephalogram (POC-EEG) is an acute care bedside screening tool for the identification of nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). The objective of this narrative review is to describe the economic themes related to POC-EEG in the United States (US).Materials and methods: We examined peer-reviewed, published manuscripts on the economic findings of POC-EEG for bedside use in US hospitals, which included those found through targeted searches on PubMed and Google Scholar. Conference abstracts, gray literature offerings, frank advertisements, white papers, and studies conducted outside the US were excluded.Results: Twelve manuscripts were identified and reviewed; results were then grouped into four categories of economic evidence. First, POC-EEG usage was associated with clinical management amendments and antiseizure medication reductions. Second, POC-EEG was correlated with fewer unnecessary transfers to other facilities for monitoring and reduced hospital length of stay (LOS). Third, when identifying NCS or NCSE onsite, POC-EEG was associated with greater reimbursement in Medical Severity-Diagnosis Related Group coding. Fourth, POC-EEG may lower labor costs via decreasing after-hours requests to EEG technologists for conventional EEG (convEEG).Limitations: We conducted a narrative review, not a systematic review. The studies were observational and utilized one rapid circumferential headband system, which limited generalizability of the findings and indicated publication bias. Some sample sizes were small and hospital characteristics may not represent all US hospitals. POC-EEG studies in pediatric populations were also lacking. Ultimately, further research is justified.Conclusions: POC-EEG is a rapid screening tool for NCS and NCSE in critical care and emergency medicine with potential financial benefits through refining clinical management, reducing unnecessary patient transfers and hospital LOS, improving reimbursement, and mitigating burdens on healthcare staff and hospitals. Since POC-EEG has limitations (i.e. no video component and reduced montage), the studies asserted that it did not replace convEEG.

Cost savings associated with a web-based physical activity intervention for COPD.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost savings associated with a pedometer-based, web-mediated physical activity intervention in a cohort of US veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). STUDY DESIGN: Economic analysis. METHODS: We constructed a decision tree from the health care system perspective incorporating adjusted relative risk of a pedometer-based, web-mediated intervention for COPD-related acute exacerbations, acute exacerbation-related costs (ie, emergency department visits and hospitalizations), and intervention-related costs. Total COPD-related costs were estimated per patient across 12 months. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis with Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate uncertainty in the model findings. RESULTS: In the deterministic (base case) model, the model estimated costs to be $4236 per participant who used the pedometer-based, web-mediated intervention compared with $7913 per participant in the control group (estimated $3677 saved in 1 year compared with the control group). The model findings were robust to probabilistic sensitivity analysis, with a difference in mean costs of $4582 (95% probability interval, $4084-$5080; P < .001). Cost savings in the model were driven by the adjusted relative risk of the web-based intervention, probability of a COPD-related acute exacerbation, rate of hospitalization, probability of hospitalization, and cost of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: A pedometer-based, web-mediated physical activity intervention yielded substantial cost savings. Increased implementation of the intervention could markedly reduce the economic burden of COPD for payers and patients.

Urinary catheter monitoring of intra-abdominal pressure after major abdominal surgery, a cost-benefit analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate costs and benefits associated with measurement of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). METHODS: We built a cost-benefit analysis from the hospital facility perspective and time horizon limited to hospitalization for patients undergoing major abdominal surgery for the intervention of urinary catheter monitoring of IAP. We used real-world data estimating the likelihood of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), and acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Costs included catheter costs (estimated $200), costs of additional intensive care unit (ICU) days from IAH and ACS, and costs of CRRT. We took the preventability of IAH/ACS given early detection from a trial of non-surgical interventions in IAH. We evaluated uncertainty through probabilistic sensitivity analysis and the effect of individual model parameters on the primary outcome of cost savings through one-way sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: In the base case, urinary catheter monitoring of IAP in the perioperative period of major abdominal surgery had 81% fewer cases of IAH of any grade, 64% fewer cases of AKI, and 96% fewer cases of ACS. Patients had 1.5 fewer ICU days attributable to IAH (intervention 1.6 days vs. control of 3.1 days) and a total average cost reduction of $10,468 (intervention $10,809, controls $21,277). In Monte Carlo simulation, 86% of 1,000 replications were cost-saving, for a mean cost savings of $10,349 (95% UCI $8,978, $11,720) attributable to real-time urinary catheter monitoring of intra-abdominal pressure. One-way factor analysis showed the pre-test probability of IAH had the largest effect on cost savings and the intervention was cost-neutral at a prevention rate as low as 2%. CONCLUSIONS: In a cost-benefit model using real-world data, the potential average in-hospital cost savings for urinary catheter monitoring of IAP for early detection and prevention of IAH, ACS, and AKI far exceed the cost of the catheter.

Investigating the "Weekend Effect" on Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Endovascular Mechanical Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke.

OBJECTIVES: With growing evidence of its efficacy for patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) ischemic stroke, the use of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has increased. The "weekend effect," whereby patients presenting during weekends/off hours have worse clinical outcomes than those presenting during normal working hours, is a critical area of study in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Our objective was to evaluate whether a "weekend effect" exists in patients undergoing EVT. METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of the 2016-2018 Nationwide Inpatient Sample data included patients ≥18 years with documented diagnosis of ischemic stroke (ICD-10 codes I63, I64, and H34.1), procedural code for EVT, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score; the exposure variable was weekend vs. weekday treatment. The primary outcome was in-hospital death; secondary outcomes were favorable discharge, extended hospital stay (LOS), and cost. Logistic regression models were constructed to determine predictors for outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 6052 AIS patients who received EVT (mean age 68.7±14.8 years; 50.8% female; 70.8% White; median (IQR) admission NIHSS 16 (10-21). The primary outcome of in-hospital death occurred in 560 (11.1%); the secondary outcome of favorable discharge occurred in 1039 (20.6%). The mean LOS was 7.8±8.6 days. There were no significant differences in the outcomes or cost based on admission timing. In the mixed-effects models, we found no effect of weekend vs. weekday admission on in-hospital death, favorable discharge, or extended LOS. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the "weekend effect" does not impact outcomes or cost for patients who undergo EVT for LVO.

Can Technology-Based Physical Activity Programs for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Be Cost-Effective?

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a technology-based physical activity (PA) intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design: A secondary data analysis was performed from a randomized controlled trial in COPD of an activity monitor alone or an activity monitor plus a web-based PA intervention. Models estimated cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) compared with usual care. Results: The estimated ICER for both groups was below the willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000/QALY (activity monitor alone = $10,437/QALY; website plus activity monitor intervention = $13,065/QALY). A probabilistic simulation estimated 76% of the activity monitor-alone group and 78% of the intervention group simulations to be cost-effective. Conclusion(s): Both the activity monitor-alone group and the activity monitor plus website group were cost-effective at the base case by using conventional willingness-to-pay thresholds. Further research would benefit from a more direct estimate of health utilities and downstream health care costs. Clinical Trials.gov NCT01102777.

Modeling the economic value of Ceribell Rapid Response EEG in the inpatient hospital setting.

AIMS: Potentially life-threatening diagnosis of non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) can only be confirmed with electroencephalography (EEG). When access to EEG is limited, physicians may empirically treat, risking unnecessary sedation and intubation, or not treat, increasing risk of refractory seizures. Either may prolong hospital length of stay (LOS). The current study aimed to examine the effect of a new EEG system (Ceribell Rapid Response EEG, Rapid-EEG) on hospital costs by enabling easy access to EEG and expedited seizure diagnosis and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We built a two-armed decision-analytic cost-benefit model comparing Rapid-EEG with clinical suspicion alone for NCSE. Diagnostic parameters were informed by a multicenter clinical trial (DECIDE, NCT03534258), while LOS and cost parameters were from public US inpatient data, published literature, and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services fee schedules. We calculated reference case estimates from mean values, while uncertainty was assessed using 95% prediction intervals (PI) generated by probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) and ANCOVA sum of squares. All costs were indexed to 2019 US$. RESULTS: Each use case of Rapid-EEG saved $3,971 to $17,290 as it led to reduction in the hospital LOS by 1.2 days (6.1 vs. 7.4 days) and ICU LOS by 0.4 days (1.5 vs. 1.9 days). Using PSA, Rapid-EEG saving was $5,633 per use case (95% PI: $($4,649 to $6,617), as it led to diminished hospital LOS by 1.1 days (95% PI: 0.9-1.4 days) and reduced ICU LOS by 0.5 days (95% PI: 0.4-0.6 days). Cost-savings were demonstrated in 75% of replications. Sixty-four percent of variance in total costs was attributable to LOS for persons incorrectly diagnosed with seizures. LIMITATIONS: Results were obtained from the analysis of existing data and not a prospective outcome trial. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid-EEG alters the treatment course for patients with suspected seizures and will result in cost savings per patient.

Determinants of specialist physician ambulatory visits: a neurology example.

Background: Economic theory argues that specialization in medicine improves efficiency. Current literature suggests that access to and utilization of specialist care vary widely based on many determinants. Thus, understanding the determinants of specialist physician ambulatory care utilization is integral to healthcare policy. Objectives: The objective is to investigate the individual and community determinants of specialist ambulatory care utilization-specifically neurologists. The aim was to find predictors of specialist utilization and to identify the particular determinants that can be modified by regulatory or legislative action. Methods: A large claims database, Truven Health Analytics™ Marketscan data, was used from 2007-2010 as the sample. These data are supplemented with data from the American Academy of Neurology (for geographic distribution of neurologists) and the US Census American FactFinder (for community demographic factors). Multivariate regression analysis was run to test the hypotheses. Several robustness tests of our models were included. Results: Most importantly, neurologists per capita has a meaningful impact on utilization. Additionally, the difference in neurologist usage by neurological condition is an important factor. It was also found that union status, age, comorbidities, and diagnosis are significant individual level determinants, and that the percentage of Hispanic residents and median income are significant community level determinants. Conclusions: There are two predictors believed to be the most important. The first is the unique neurologists per 1,000 capita variable, which shows a small increase in the number of neurologists would be correlated with a small increase in the probability of seeing a neurologist. We suggest that this is within policymakers' control, and policymakers should consider this action in the face of the predicted shortage. The second is what appears to be possible sorting by neurologists of patients based on diagnosis - the large difference in the fraction of patients seeing a neurologist by disease.

Neurophysiological monitoring during cervical spine surgeries: Longitudinal costs and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Well-designed longitudinal studies assessing effectiveness of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) are lacking. We investigate IONM effects on cost and administrative markers for health outcomes in the year after cervical spine surgery. METHODS: We identified single-level cervical spine surgeries in commercial claims. We constructed linear regression models estimating the effect of IONM (controlling for patient demographics, pre-operative health, services during index admission) on total spending, neurological complications, readmissions, and outpatient opiate usage in the year following index surgery. RESULTS: IONM was associated with increased spending during index admission of $1229 (p = 0.001), but decreased spending post-discharge of $1615 (p = 0.010), for a net - $386 (p = 0.608) for the year after surgery. Shorter length of stay (0.116 days, p = 0.004) and fewer readmissions (20.5 per thousand, p = 0.036) accounted for some post-discharge savings. IONM was associated with decreased rates of nervous system complications (4/1000, p = 0.048) and post-discharge opiate use (17 prescriptions/1000, p = 0.050) in the year after index admission. CONCLUSIONS: IONM was associated with administrative markers suggesting improved health outcomes after cervical spine surgery without greater costs for the year. SIGNIFICANCE: This study suggests IONM may have lasting health and cost benefits.

Association of neurologist care with headache expenditures: A population-based, longitudinal analysis.

Objective To assess the association of neurologist ambulatory care with healthcare utilization and expenditure in headache. Methods This was a longitudinal cohort study from two-year duration panel data, pooled from 2002-2013, of adult respondents identified with diagnostic codes for headache in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Those with a neurologist ambulatory care visit in year one of panel participation were compared with those who did not for the change in annual aggregate direct headache-related health care costs from year one to year two of panel participation, inflated to 2015 US dollars. Results were adjusted via multiple linear regression for demographic and clinical variables, utilizing survey variables for accurate estimates and standard errors. Results Eight hundred and eighty-seven respondents were included, with 23.3% (207/887) seeing a neurologist in year one. The neurologist group had higher year-one mean headache-related expenditures ($3032 vs. $1636), but nearly equal mean year-two expenditures compared to controls ($1900 vs. $1929). Adjusted association between neurologist care and difference in mean annual expenditures from year two to year one was -$1579 (95% CI -$2468, -$690, p < 0.001). Conclusion Among headache sufferers, particularly those with higher headache-related healthcare expenditures, neurologist care is associated with a significant reduction in costs over two years.

The association of neurologists with headache health care utilization and costs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of a neurologist visit with headache health care utilization and costs. METHODS: Utilizing a large privately insured health care claims database, we identified patients with an incident headache diagnosis (ICD-9 codes 339.xx, 784.0x, 306.81) with at least 5 years follow-up. Patients with a subsequent neurologist visit were matched to controls without a neurologist visit using propensity score matching, accounting for 54 potential confounders and regional variation in neurologist density. Co-primary outcomes were emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for headache. Secondary outcomes were quality measures (abortive, prophylactic, and opioid prescriptions) and costs (total, headache-related, and non-headache-related). Generalized estimating equations assessed differences in longitudinal outcomes between cases and controls. RESULTS: We identified 28,585 cases and 57,170 controls. ED visits did not differ between cases and controls (p = 0.05). Hospitalizations were more common in cases in year 0-1 (0.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2%-0.3% vs 0.01%, 95% CI 0.01%-0.02%; p < 0.01), with minimal differences in subsequent years. Costs (including non-headache-related costs) and high-quality and low-quality medication utilization were higher in cases in the first year and decreased toward control costs in subsequent years with small differences persisting over 5 years. Opioid prescriptions increased over time in both cases and controls. CONCLUSION: Compared with those without a neurologist, headache patients who visit neurologists had a transient increase in hospitalizations, but the same ED utilization. Confounding by severity is the most likely explanation given the non-headache-related cost trajectory. Claims-based risk adjustment will likely underestimate disease severity of headache patients seen by neurologists.

The Business Case for Expanded Clozapine Utilization.

OBJECTIVE: In most settings, less than 25% of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia receive clozapine, the only medication proven effective for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Therefore, a business case analysis was conducted to assess whether increasing clozapine utilization for treatment-resistant schizophrenia in a health care system would result in direct health care cost savings. METHODS: Veterans with treatment-resistant schizophrenia who were treated in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) were studied. Treatment response, suicides, adverse drug reactions (and associated mortality), and effects on inpatient hospitalization related to clozapine were derived from a systematic review of published studies. A one-factor sensitivity analysis and a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) with Monte Carlo simulation were conducted to calculate the cost-benefits of increased clozapine utilization. RESULTS: Despite monitoring costs, in the base case analysis, the VHA would save $22,444 per veteran with treatment-resistant schizophrenia over the first year of clozapine therapy, primarily from 18.6 fewer inpatient days per patient. If current utilization was doubled, and 50% of those veterans continued clozapine treatment for one year, VHA would save an estimated $80 million. Cost savings were most sensitive to the proportion of treatment-resistant patients who received clozapine, decrease in inpatient days, cost of inpatient stays, clozapine response rate, and number of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. In the PSA, initiation of clozapine for all VHA patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia who were not currently treated with clozapine would save at least $290 million in 95% of simulations. CONCLUSIONS: Increased clozapine utilization would result in net cost savings for the VHA.

Neurologist ambulatory care, health care utilization, and costs in a large commercial dataset.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of neurologist ambulatory care in chronic neurologic diseases in a large administrative claims dataset detailing costs, adverse events, and health care utilization. METHODS: The Optum proprietary claims dataset (2010-2012) was examined to describe direct health care costs, as well as specific outcome metrics for a large population of persons with chronic neurologic illnesses. In phase I of the study, we detail neurologist involvement and differences in annualized allowed third--party payments within episode treatment groups (ETGs) for 10 neurologic illnesses. For phase II, we examined health care utilization for ETGs of epilepsy, Parkinson disease (PD), stroke, and multiple sclerosis (MS) with and without neurologist involvement. Reported outcomes were unadjusted differences and odds ratios between treatment groups. RESULTS: For phase I, a total of 1,913,605 ETGs for 10 neurologic conditions were identified, 30.1% meeting criteria for neurologist involvement. All conditions had higher direct costs when neurologists were involved with care, ranging from a 25% increase for Alzheimer dementia to 100% more for MS care. In phase II, fractures, infections, emergent care, and inpatient admission were less with neurologist ambulatory care, while neurologist care was associated with greater utilization of disease-specific treatments (immunotherapies in MS anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation-associated stroke, deep brain stimulation and dopaminergic therapies in PD). CONCLUSION: Neurologist involvement with care is associated with greater unadjusted allowed payments, but fewer adverse events and less acute care utilization.

Association of increased emergency rooms costs for patients without access to necessary medications.

BACKGROUND: Prescription medications are an important component of chronic disease management. They are vital in preventing unnecessary ER visits. However, few studies have examined the association between patients' self-reported inability to receive necessary medications and emergency room costs. OBJECTIVES: The study objectives were to: 1) determine differences in ER costs based on self-reported ability to obtain necessary medications. 2) identify differences in ER costs based on self-reported ability to obtain necessary medications among medication users. The association was also examined by insurance category. METHODS: Respondent data from 10 years (2002-2011) of the U.S. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was analyzed. The models employed estimated the association of respondents reporting being 'unable to receive necessary medications' on ER expenditures. Secondarily, the relationship was assessed by insurance category: private, public, and uninsured. Two-part cost regression models with bootstrapped estimates to produce 95% confidence intervals of cost differences were applied for these analyses. Significance was set at α = 0.05. Analyses were completed using SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC) and Stata 13 (College Station, TX). Estimates were in 2011 US dollars. RESULTS: People unable to receive necessary medications experienced increased average annual ER costs of $46.62 with 95% a confidence interval [CI] of 34.76-58.49) compared to patients able to receive necessary medications. By insurance category, respondents unable to receive necessary medications experienced increased ER costs of $104.80 (95% CI: 60.57-149.03), $42.16 (95% CI: 24.65-59.68), and $33.18 (95% CI: 18.54-47.82), for Publically Insured, Privately Insured, and Uninsured, respectively. Findings were similar for those already using medications. CONCLUSIONS: Inability to obtain necessary medications is associated with increased emergency room costs. Those with public insurance have a larger increase in ER costs if they are without necessary medications compared to those insured privately or without insurance.

Comparative effectiveness analyses of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in spinal surgery.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring for surgeries of the spine has been performed in clinical practice for several decades, but recent alterations in reimbursement schemes by third party payers have raised issues of the value of these procedures. Decision modeling using comparative effectiveness techniques holds the promise of evidence-based assessment of both cost and meaningful outcomes. In this article, we review the elements of comparative effectiveness analyses followed by a critical appraisal of the small but growing body of cost-effectiveness literature for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in spine.

Cost-effectiveness of pit-and-fissure sealants on primary molars in Medicaid-enrolled children.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the incremental cost-effectiveness of 2 primary molar sealant strategies-always seal and never seal-with standard care for Medicaid-enrolled children. METHODS: We used Iowa Medicaid claims data (2008-2011), developed a tooth-level Markov model for 10 000 teeth, and compared costs, treatment avoided, and incremental cost per treatment avoided for the 2 sealant strategies with standard care. RESULTS: In 10 000 simulated teeth, standard care cost $214 510, always seal cost $232 141, and never seal cost $186 010. Relative to standard care, always seal reduced the number of restorations to 340 from 2389, whereas never seal increased restorations to 2853. Compared with standard care, always seal cost $8.12 per restoration avoided (95% confidence interval [CI] = $4.10, $12.26; P ≤ .001). Compared with never seal, standard care cost $65.62 per restoration avoided (95% CI = $52.99, $78.26; P ≤ .001). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to standard care, always sealing primary molars is more costly but reduces subsequent dental treatment. Never sealing costs less but leads to more treatment. State Medicaid programs that do not currently reimburse dentists for primary molar sealants should consider reimbursement for primary molar sealant procedures as a population-based strategy to prevent tooth decay and reduce later treatment needs in vulnerable young children.

Changes to CMS reimbursement rules for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring: implications for telemedicine.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is used as an adjunct for surgeries that pose risk to nervous system structures. IONM is performed by a technologist in the operating room and is overseen by a highly trained fellowship-trained physician clinical neurophysiologist. Telemedicine has allowed the professional oversight component to be done remotely, with reimbursement for multiple simultaneous cases. Recent changes to Current Procedure Terminology coding and Medicare reimbursement policies provide options only for exclusive 1:1 technologist:oversight physician billing. This policy change may create profound repercussions in the practice of telemedicine by actively discouraging the leveraging of highly specialized and scarce expertise through on-site physician extenders.

Cost-benefit analysis: intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in spinal surgeries.

PURPOSE: To construct a cost-benefit model for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) in spinal surgeries. METHODS: Decision model was based on sensitivity, specificity, IOM cost, prevention rate given an IOM alert, and spinal procedure neurologic complication rates in pooled estimates from the published literature with outcome of lifetime costs after neuromonitored versus unmonitored spinal surgeries. Lifetime cost of neurologic injury was the sum of direct health care costs and lost wages and benefits. Results from Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 replications were analyzed for cost outcomes and relationship of input variables to outcomes. RESULTS: IOM saved $23,189 (P < 0.001) for the reference case of 50-year-olds with neurologic complication rate of 5%, 2009 Medicare reimbursement of IOM at $1,535 per operation, 52.4% prevention rate given an IOM alert at 94.3% sensitivity and 95.6% specificity, assuming incomplete (nonplegic) motor injury. The baseline risk of surgery, lifetime costs after neurologic deficit, and ability to prevent neurologic deficits after an IOM alert were most correlated with cost outcomes. In linear prediction models, IOM remained cost-saving when neurologic complication rate from surgery exceeded 0.3% (P < 0.001) and prevention rate after IOM alert was greater than 14.2%(P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative monitoring is cost-saving for spinal surgeries in a theoretical model based on the current published literature.