Understanding the economic impact of introducing a new procedure: calculating downstream revenue of endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial needle aspiration as a model

Chest. 2012 Feb;141(2):506-512. doi: 10.1378/chest.11-0254.

Abstract

Over the last decade, endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) evolved into a validated and powerful diagnostic tool. Although it is integral to medical care in some health-care systems, others struggle to justify its purchase based on diminishing reimbursement. In analyzing its value to a health-care system, looking at procedural reimbursement alone will grossly underestimate its economic impact. Downstream revenue has been defined by administrators as revenue captured after patients use one hospital service and then use others. By analyzing consecutive EBUS cases and taking downstream revenue into account, $2.4 million in collections was attributed to 97 patients who were newly referred for this procedure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy, Needle / economics*
  • Biopsy, Needle / methods*
  • Bronchi / pathology
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Endosonography / economics*
  • Endosonography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reimbursement Mechanisms
  • South Carolina
  • United States