Details
| Translated title of the contribution | Costs of ambulatory care for RA patients in Germany |
|---|---|
| Original language | Multiple languages |
| Pages (from-to) | 255-261 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Medizinische Klinik |
| Volume | 100 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - May 2005 |
Abstract
□ Background: In 2000, the Regional Cooperative Center for Rheumatic Conditions in Hannover, Germany, initiated a project to introduce and evaluate a case-based clinical quality management system to enhance the quality of care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Building on that, it was possible to combine all resource uses, as paid by the sickness funds, including those in ambulatory care. □ Methods: The purpose of this study was to reach average "per-visit prices" for single physician visits, not only for rheumatologists, but also for other specialists as well as generalists. Those visits all had to be connected to the rheumatic condition of the patients. All ambulatory care visits for 1 year (2001) were evaluated. □ Results: Due to the high number of physician visits of the 338 patients with clinically assured rheumatoid arthritis included in the study (rheumatologist visits 4,488, generalist visits 3,901), statistically significant subgroups could be built. The average costs per visit associated with rheumatoid arthritis are: rheumatologist € 22.71; generalist € 8.02; as well as other specialties ranging from € 5.81 to € 19.48. The low price for generalists care is due to the selection of the cohort, as all patients are under constant specialist care. The prices were further broken down to certain subgroups of care. □ Conclusion: The prices are calculated under the premises that no budgetary constraints apply to ambulatory care. This is not the reality in Germany. Hence, looking at the average frequency of rheumatologist visits in this cohort (13.2/year), the conclusion has to be that not all rheumatologic ambulatory care is being covered by the reimbursement system within the Statutory Health Insurance in Germany.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- General Medicine
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In: Medizinische Klinik, Vol. 100, No. 5, 05.2005, p. 255-261.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Arztkontaktpreise bei der ambulanten Versorgung der chronischen Polyarthritis in Deutschland
AU - Mittendorf, Thomas
AU - Merkesdal, Sonja
AU - Zeidler, Henning
AU - Von Der Schulenburg, J. Matthias Graf
AU - Ruof, Jörg
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - □ Background: In 2000, the Regional Cooperative Center for Rheumatic Conditions in Hannover, Germany, initiated a project to introduce and evaluate a case-based clinical quality management system to enhance the quality of care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Building on that, it was possible to combine all resource uses, as paid by the sickness funds, including those in ambulatory care. □ Methods: The purpose of this study was to reach average "per-visit prices" for single physician visits, not only for rheumatologists, but also for other specialists as well as generalists. Those visits all had to be connected to the rheumatic condition of the patients. All ambulatory care visits for 1 year (2001) were evaluated. □ Results: Due to the high number of physician visits of the 338 patients with clinically assured rheumatoid arthritis included in the study (rheumatologist visits 4,488, generalist visits 3,901), statistically significant subgroups could be built. The average costs per visit associated with rheumatoid arthritis are: rheumatologist € 22.71; generalist € 8.02; as well as other specialties ranging from € 5.81 to € 19.48. The low price for generalists care is due to the selection of the cohort, as all patients are under constant specialist care. The prices were further broken down to certain subgroups of care. □ Conclusion: The prices are calculated under the premises that no budgetary constraints apply to ambulatory care. This is not the reality in Germany. Hence, looking at the average frequency of rheumatologist visits in this cohort (13.2/year), the conclusion has to be that not all rheumatologic ambulatory care is being covered by the reimbursement system within the Statutory Health Insurance in Germany.
AB - □ Background: In 2000, the Regional Cooperative Center for Rheumatic Conditions in Hannover, Germany, initiated a project to introduce and evaluate a case-based clinical quality management system to enhance the quality of care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Building on that, it was possible to combine all resource uses, as paid by the sickness funds, including those in ambulatory care. □ Methods: The purpose of this study was to reach average "per-visit prices" for single physician visits, not only for rheumatologists, but also for other specialists as well as generalists. Those visits all had to be connected to the rheumatic condition of the patients. All ambulatory care visits for 1 year (2001) were evaluated. □ Results: Due to the high number of physician visits of the 338 patients with clinically assured rheumatoid arthritis included in the study (rheumatologist visits 4,488, generalist visits 3,901), statistically significant subgroups could be built. The average costs per visit associated with rheumatoid arthritis are: rheumatologist € 22.71; generalist € 8.02; as well as other specialties ranging from € 5.81 to € 19.48. The low price for generalists care is due to the selection of the cohort, as all patients are under constant specialist care. The prices were further broken down to certain subgroups of care. □ Conclusion: The prices are calculated under the premises that no budgetary constraints apply to ambulatory care. This is not the reality in Germany. Hence, looking at the average frequency of rheumatologist visits in this cohort (13.2/year), the conclusion has to be that not all rheumatologic ambulatory care is being covered by the reimbursement system within the Statutory Health Insurance in Germany.
KW - Ambulatory care
KW - Cost analyses
KW - Germany
KW - Rheumatoid arthritis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20044364564&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00063-005-1032-2
DO - 10.1007/s00063-005-1032-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 15902379
AN - SCOPUS:20044364564
VL - 100
SP - 255
EP - 261
JO - Medizinische Klinik
JF - Medizinische Klinik
SN - 0723-5003
IS - 5
ER -