The impact of bundled payments for diabetes care on curative health care costs - A 2-year follow-up study based on Dutch nationwide claim data

Objectives:The present study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a behavioral graded exercise therapy (GET) program compared with usual care (UC) in terms of the performance of daily activities by patients with chronic shoulder complaints in primary care.Methods:A total of 176 patients were randomly assigned either to GET (n=87) or to UC (n=89). Clinical outcomes (main complaints, shoulder disability [SDQ] and generic health-related quality of life [EQ-5D], and costs [intervention costs, direct health care costs, direct non–health-related costs, and indirect costs]) were assessed during the 12-week treatment period and at 52 weeks of follow-up.Results:Results showed that GET was more effective than UC in restoring daily activities as assessed by the main complaints instrument after the 12-week treatment period (p=.049; mean difference, 7.5; confidence interval [CI], 0.0–15.0). These effects lasted for at least 52 weeks (p=.025; mean difference 9.2; CI, 1.2–17.3). No statistically significant differences were found on the SDQ or EQ5D. GET significantly reduced direct health care costs (p=.000) and direct non–health care costs (p=.029). Nevertheless, total costs during the 1-year follow-up period were significantly higher (p=.001; GET=€530 versus UC=€377) due to the higher costs of the intervention. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for the main complaints (0–100), SDQ (0–100), and EQ-5D (−1.0–1.0) were €17, €74, and €5,278 per unit of improvement, respectively.Conclusions:GET proved to be more effective in the short- and long-term and reduces direct health care costs and direct non–health care costs but is associated with higher costs of the intervention itself.

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Direct access physiotherapy for patients with musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.335 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

A Demont ◽

A Bourmaud ◽

A Kechichian ◽

F Desmeules

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Care ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Usual Care ◽

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Health Care Costs ◽

Family Physician ◽

Direct Access ◽

The Impact ◽

Care Costs

Abstract Background Although the benefits of physiotherapy is well supported in the literature, the impact of having direct access to physiotherapy is not well established. Update of the current available evidence is warranted. The aim of this systematic review was to update the current evidence regarding the impact of direct access physiotherapy compared to usual care for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Methods Systematic searches were conducted in 5 bibliographic databases up until May 2018. Two independent raters reviewed studies and used the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies to conduct the methodological quality assessment and a data extraction regarding patient outcomes, adverse events, health care utilization and processes, patient satisfaction and health care costs. Results Sixteen studies of weak to moderate quality were included. Five studies found no significant differences in pain reduction between usual family physician led care and direct access physiotherapy. However, three studies reported better clinical outcomes in patients with direct access in terms of function and quality of life. Five studies did not observe any adverse events with direct access physiotherapy. Three studies showed shorter waiting time and four studies reported fewer number of physiotherapy visits with direct access. Three studies showed that patients with direct access were less likely to have medication and imaging tests prescribed compared to usual care. Five studies reported higher levels of satisfaction for direct access. In terms of health care costs, four studies demonstrated that costs were lower with direct access and one study reported similar costs between both types of care. Conclusions Emerging evidence, although of weak to moderate quality, suggest that direct access physiotherapy provides equal or better outcomes than family physician led care models for musculoskeletal disorders patients. More methodologically strong studies are needed. Key messages This review supports the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of direct access PT, while increasing access to care with a more efficient use of resources. There is a need for more methodologically strong studies to evaluate the efficiency of direct access models of care of physiotherapy for patients with MSKD.

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