Medicare Cost of Training for Self-Care Dialysis: An Estimation by Statistical Cost Function

摘要

The paper focuses on Medicare cost finding for dialysis care by using regression techniques for estimating statistical cost functions which are based on simple measures of bottom line costs and the multiproducts of dialysis units. The paper compares the results of the estimated cost functions with the more traditional approach of using accounting weighted estimates. The analysis was limited to free-standing dialysis units and used data for fiscal year 1987 from the Statistical Cost Forms (HCFA Form No. 2552-81) the HCFA Facility Survey File (HCFA, 1988), and the HCFA Program Management and Medical Information System (HCFA, 1988). The multiproduct outputs are in-center hemodialysis, home hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal (CAPD) treatments, training of self-care hemodialysis patients, and training of CAPD patients. The cost-function estimates showed lower Medicare average costs for all three forms of non-training treatments, compared to the accounting weighted estimate. The regression based estimate shows higher Medicare average costs per training treatment compared to the weighted accountant average Medicare cost.