Objective: Objective of this study is to assess and evaluate resource use in outpatient treatment in Germany and to compare it with remuneration.
Methods: Outpatient treatment was evaluated in seven different centers for pediatric and adult CF patients. Data were recorded during one representative month in 2006. A micro-costing approach was used to value resource use data.
Results: For outpatient treatment mean costs (excluding drugs) of 488 € per patient per quarter occurred. Correlation analyses identified significant cost drivers including age and co-morbidities (pancreatic insufficiency, hepatobiliary complications, lung function capacity, or bacterial lung colonization). Remuneration covered only 51% of the total costs (252 € per patient/quarter).
Conclusions: As the human resources available to these centers today are already below the requirements set by the European consensus for standards of CF care it will be important for a high level of patient care to reach a cost-covering remuneration scheme.
Keywords: Germany; cost analysis; cystic fibrosis; reimbursement.
Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.