Inventory of data sources for estimating health care costs in the United States.
Med Care
; 47(7 Suppl 1): S127-42, 2009 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19536009
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To develop an inventory of data sources for estimating health care costs in the United States and provide information to aid researchers in identifying appropriate data sources for their specific research questions.METHODS:
We identified data sources for estimating health care costs using 3 approaches (1) a review of the 18 articles included in this supplement, (2) an evaluation of websites of federal government agencies, non profit foundations, and related societies that support health care research or provide health care services, and (3) a systematic review of the recently published literature. Descriptive information was abstracted from each data source, including sponsor, website, lowest level of data aggregation, type of data source, population included, cross-sectional or longitudinal data capture, source of diagnosis information, and cost of obtaining the data source. Details about the cost elements available in each data source were also abstracted.RESULTS:
We identified 88 data sources that can be used to estimate health care costs in the United States. Most data sources were sponsored by government agencies, national or nationally representative, and cross-sectional. About 40% were surveys, followed by administrative or linked administrative data, fee or cost schedules, discharges, and other types of data. Diagnosis information was available in most data sources through procedure or diagnosis codes, self-report, registry, or chart review. Cost elements included inpatient hospitalizations (42.0%), physician and other outpatient services (45.5%), outpatient pharmacy or laboratory (28.4%), out-of-pocket (22.7%), patient time and other direct nonmedical costs (35.2%), and wages (13.6%). About half were freely available for downloading or available for a nominal fee, and the cost of obtaining the remaining data sources varied by the scope of the project.CONCLUSIONS:
Available data sources vary in population included, type of data source, scope, and accessibility, and have different strengths and weaknesses for specific research questions.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Coleta de Dados
/
Custos de Cuidados de Saúde
/
Pesquisa sobre Serviços de Saúde
Tipo de estudo:
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Systematic_reviews
Aspecto:
Patient_preference
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Med Care
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos