Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in Finland
Abstract Background Substantial variation in health care costs for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has previously been identified. Materials and Methods We analyzed the changes in health care costs in MPM in Finland during 2002–2012. Finland has low‐threshold public health care and a mandatory...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Thoracic Cancer |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.14146 |
| _version_ | 1818717257534013440 |
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| author | Paulus Torkki Juuso Paajanen Ville Kytö Sanna Laaksonen Jari Räsänen Marjukka Myllärniemi Ilkka Ilonen |
| author_facet | Paulus Torkki Juuso Paajanen Ville Kytö Sanna Laaksonen Jari Räsänen Marjukka Myllärniemi Ilkka Ilonen |
| author_sort | Paulus Torkki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Substantial variation in health care costs for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has previously been identified. Materials and Methods We analyzed the changes in health care costs in MPM in Finland during 2002–2012. Finland has low‐threshold public health care and a mandatory Workers' Compensation scheme that covers all occupational‐related disease expenses. The costs include treatment costs for inpatients, hospice care, medication costs, rehabilitation costs, and travel costs. All costs are expressed in 2012 prices, adjusted using the consumer price index. Results A total of 907 MPM patients were included in the study. Mean duration of inpatient episodes increased 7% per year from 2002 to 2012, correlating with total costs (R2 = 0.861, p < 0.05). The annual total costs for treatment increased from 1.7 to 4.3 m€ during the study period and the cost per patient from 27 000 to 43 000 €. The overall costs increased progressively by the number of procedures performed. In patients who had been compensated for occupational cause by Workers' Compensation Center, only 36% of the overall care costs were billed from the insurance company. Billing of inpatient costs was 86% in these patients. Conclusion During the study period, we found that the costs of MPM increased more than the average health care costs. This may be because of advanced diagnostic workup or more costly treatment (e.g., pemetrexed). Moreover, only one‐third of all health care costs are charged to Workers' Compensation Insurance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T19:32:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ee0783be8574ad395be1706d53f6b7e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1759-7706 1759-7714 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T19:32:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Thoracic Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ee0783be8574ad395be1706d53f6b7e2022-12-21T21:35:14ZengWileyThoracic Cancer1759-77061759-77142021-10-0112192594260010.1111/1759-7714.14146Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in FinlandPaulus Torkki0Juuso Paajanen1Ville Kytö2Sanna Laaksonen3Jari Räsänen4Marjukka Myllärniemi5Ilkka Ilonen6Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandHeart and Lung Center Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandIndividualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandHeart and Lung Center Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandHeart and Lung Center Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandHeart and Lung Center Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Helsinki FinlandAbstract Background Substantial variation in health care costs for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has previously been identified. Materials and Methods We analyzed the changes in health care costs in MPM in Finland during 2002–2012. Finland has low‐threshold public health care and a mandatory Workers' Compensation scheme that covers all occupational‐related disease expenses. The costs include treatment costs for inpatients, hospice care, medication costs, rehabilitation costs, and travel costs. All costs are expressed in 2012 prices, adjusted using the consumer price index. Results A total of 907 MPM patients were included in the study. Mean duration of inpatient episodes increased 7% per year from 2002 to 2012, correlating with total costs (R2 = 0.861, p < 0.05). The annual total costs for treatment increased from 1.7 to 4.3 m€ during the study period and the cost per patient from 27 000 to 43 000 €. The overall costs increased progressively by the number of procedures performed. In patients who had been compensated for occupational cause by Workers' Compensation Center, only 36% of the overall care costs were billed from the insurance company. Billing of inpatient costs was 86% in these patients. Conclusion During the study period, we found that the costs of MPM increased more than the average health care costs. This may be because of advanced diagnostic workup or more costly treatment (e.g., pemetrexed). Moreover, only one‐third of all health care costs are charged to Workers' Compensation Insurance.https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.14146asbestoshealth care costsmalignant pleural mesotheliomaoccupational disease |
| spellingShingle | Paulus Torkki Juuso Paajanen Ville Kytö Sanna Laaksonen Jari Räsänen Marjukka Myllärniemi Ilkka Ilonen Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in Finland Thoracic Cancer asbestos health care costs malignant pleural mesothelioma occupational disease |
| title | Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in Finland |
| title_full | Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in Finland |
| title_fullStr | Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in Finland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in Finland |
| title_short | Evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in Finland |
| title_sort | evidence for marked underutilization of insurance billing in malignant pleural mesothelioma in finland |
| topic | asbestos health care costs malignant pleural mesothelioma occupational disease |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.14146 |
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