Home care cost-effectiveness for respiratory technology-dependent children

Article Abstract:

Children requiring special machines or technology for respiratory support (breathing) may be treated in the hospital or at home. Even though home care can be much less expensive than hospital care, many insurance companies will not reimburse fully for home care, but will for hospital care. Families who can not afford the extra costs of home care must keep their children in the hospital. Congress and some state legislatures have passed laws permitting that public funds allowed for hospital care be used for home care. Unfortunately, not many people know about or have taken advantage of these legislative changes. The state of Maryland enacted the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program in 1985. This study examined the cost of home care versus that of hospital care for respiratory technology-dependent children covered by this program. Projected costs for home care and institutional care were established using data from the Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care (CCHCC). The data were obtained from the cases of 10 children requiring respiratory care who were eligible for and used the new program. Six of the children were on mechanical ventilation and four were receiving oxygen. First year costs for the mechanical ventilation patients who remained at home averaged $109,836; costs were estimated to be $188,909 for institutional care. First year costs for the children who required oxygen averaged $63,650 for home care and were estimated to be $146,836 for institutional care. The major cost of both home and institutional care was attributed to nursing services. If this program provided funds for home care of 50 children, the potential savings could amount to $4 million per year. These results demonstrate that encouraging and providing benefits for home care of children who require respiratory support can result in a substantial savings in health care costs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Economic aspects, Laws, regulations and rules, Children, Artificial respiration, Mechanical ventilation, Oxygen therapy, Home care services, Respiratory tract diseases, Child health services, Oxygen therapy for children

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The challenge of care for the poor child: the research agenda

Article Abstract:

The Society of Pediatric Research (SPR) is an organization dedicated to the investigation of problems that affect children. Among the many areas that are appropriate subjects for research are those that frequently affect poor children. These include premature birth, perinatal infections (from before to shortly after birth), HIV infection and AIDS, the effects of drugs and alcohol on the fetus and infant, infectious diseases of early childhood, child abuse, teenage pregnancy and suicide. Essential also, is the development of a rational health care program, with equal services available for all children. A menu of research initiatives is suggested. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Evaluation, Reports, Pediatrics, Poor children, Society for Pediatric Research

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