A Cost Evaluation of the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program
IntroductionHypertension is a leading cause of stroke, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and heart and kidney failure in the United States, all of which contribute to the rising costs of health care. The Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program is an education and direct service progr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2006-01-01
|
| Series: | Preventing Chronic Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/jan/05_0143.htm |
| _version_ | 1797428473925468160 |
|---|---|
| author | Rosanne Farris, PhD, RD J. Nell Brownstein, PhD Patricia Jones, RN, CDE Hong Chen, MS Diane Orenstein, PhD David B. Rein, PhD Roberta T. Constantine, PhD |
| author_facet | Rosanne Farris, PhD, RD J. Nell Brownstein, PhD Patricia Jones, RN, CDE Hong Chen, MS Diane Orenstein, PhD David B. Rein, PhD Roberta T. Constantine, PhD |
| author_sort | Rosanne Farris, PhD, RD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionHypertension is a leading cause of stroke, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and heart and kidney failure in the United States, all of which contribute to the rising costs of health care. The Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program is an education and direct service program for low-income patients with hypertension. This project evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the program compared with the following two alternative scenarios: no treatment for high blood pressure and the typical hypertension treatment received in the private sector nationwide (usual care).MethodsWe estimated the preventive treatment costs and number of adverse health events averted (hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure) associated with the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program in two Georgia health districts. We used program cost and service usage data obtained from the Georgia Department of Human Resources and probabilities and costs of expected adverse events published in peer-reviewed sources. We compared program costs and number of expected adverse health events averted with those expected from 1) no preventive care and 2) usual care for high blood pressure.ResultsThe Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program was less costly and resulted in better health outcomes than either no preventive care or usual care. Compared with no preventive care in the two districts, the program was estimated to result in 54% fewer expected adverse events; compared with usual care, the program was estimated to result in 46% fewer expected adverse events. Combining the costs of preventive treatment with the costs of expected adverse events, the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program cost an average of $486 per patient annually, compared with average annual costs of $534 for no care and $624 for usual care.ConclusionMaintaining a publicly financed stroke and heart attack prevention program is more cost-effective and results in greater health benefits than other plausible scenarios. Because the benefits of this program accrue to both the state and federal governments through reduced Medicaid and indigent care expenditures, both the state and federal governments have a financial incentive to support the program. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:59:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a05e0745d2c4a0dbfec751e964da2c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1545-1151 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:59:25Z |
| publishDate | 2006-01-01 |
| publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Preventing Chronic Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a05e0745d2c4a0dbfec751e964da2c72023-12-02T12:06:46ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionPreventing Chronic Disease1545-11512006-01-0131A Cost Evaluation of the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention ProgramRosanne Farris, PhD, RDJ. Nell Brownstein, PhDPatricia Jones, RN, CDEHong Chen, MSDiane Orenstein, PhDDavid B. Rein, PhDRoberta T. Constantine, PhDIntroductionHypertension is a leading cause of stroke, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and heart and kidney failure in the United States, all of which contribute to the rising costs of health care. The Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program is an education and direct service program for low-income patients with hypertension. This project evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the program compared with the following two alternative scenarios: no treatment for high blood pressure and the typical hypertension treatment received in the private sector nationwide (usual care).MethodsWe estimated the preventive treatment costs and number of adverse health events averted (hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure) associated with the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program in two Georgia health districts. We used program cost and service usage data obtained from the Georgia Department of Human Resources and probabilities and costs of expected adverse events published in peer-reviewed sources. We compared program costs and number of expected adverse health events averted with those expected from 1) no preventive care and 2) usual care for high blood pressure.ResultsThe Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program was less costly and resulted in better health outcomes than either no preventive care or usual care. Compared with no preventive care in the two districts, the program was estimated to result in 54% fewer expected adverse events; compared with usual care, the program was estimated to result in 46% fewer expected adverse events. Combining the costs of preventive treatment with the costs of expected adverse events, the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program cost an average of $486 per patient annually, compared with average annual costs of $534 for no care and $624 for usual care.ConclusionMaintaining a publicly financed stroke and heart attack prevention program is more cost-effective and results in greater health benefits than other plausible scenarios. Because the benefits of this program accrue to both the state and federal governments through reduced Medicaid and indigent care expenditures, both the state and federal governments have a financial incentive to support the program.http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/jan/05_0143.htmpublic healthchronic diseasepreventionGeorgiastrokeheart attack |
| spellingShingle | Rosanne Farris, PhD, RD J. Nell Brownstein, PhD Patricia Jones, RN, CDE Hong Chen, MS Diane Orenstein, PhD David B. Rein, PhD Roberta T. Constantine, PhD A Cost Evaluation of the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program Preventing Chronic Disease public health chronic disease prevention Georgia stroke heart attack |
| title | A Cost Evaluation of the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program |
| title_full | A Cost Evaluation of the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program |
| title_fullStr | A Cost Evaluation of the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Cost Evaluation of the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program |
| title_short | A Cost Evaluation of the Georgia Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program |
| title_sort | cost evaluation of the georgia stroke and heart attack prevention program |
| topic | public health chronic disease prevention Georgia stroke heart attack |
| url | http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/jan/05_0143.htm |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rosannefarrisphdrd acostevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT jnellbrownsteinphd acostevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT patriciajonesrncde acostevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT hongchenms acostevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT dianeorensteinphd acostevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT davidbreinphd acostevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT robertatconstantinephd acostevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT rosannefarrisphdrd costevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT jnellbrownsteinphd costevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT patriciajonesrncde costevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT hongchenms costevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT dianeorensteinphd costevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT davidbreinphd costevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram AT robertatconstantinephd costevaluationofthegeorgiastrokeandheartattackpreventionprogram |