The provision of rehabilitation to inpatients on a Saturday in addition to Monday through Friday was more cost effective than Monday through Friday rehabilitation alone, according to study results. Cost effectiveness was measured as cost saving per quality-adjusted life year gained and for minimal clinically important difference in functional independence.
Researchers in Australia randomly assigned 996 patients admitted for inpatient rehabilitation to a control group that received usual care rehabilitation services from Monday to Friday or an intervention group that received usual care plus an additional rehabilitation service on Saturday. Researchers reported incremental cost utility ratio as cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, as well as an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) as cost for a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in functional independence.
Study results showed a mean difference in cost of $1,673 AUD (Australian dollars) with the savings in favor of the intervention group. Researchers also found a savings of $41,825 AUD per QALY gained for the intervention group from the incremental cost utility ratio, and a saving of $16,003 in achieving a MCID in functional independence for the intervention group from the ICER. According to study results, the probability of the intervention being cost effective was 96% if the willingness to pay per QALY gained and 95% for a MCID in the functional independence was zero dollars. Even after removing Saturday penalty rates, sensitivity analyses showed outcomes were not significantly different.
For more information:
Brusco NK. BMC Medicine. 2014;doi:10.1186/1741-7015-12-89.
Disclosure: The researchers have no relevant financial disclosures.
