Table 1 Documented resource use and unit costs applied for calculation of costs
Sector | Services / Goods | Units | Unit costs (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|
Inpatient treatment | Stays in general hospitals, specialized psychiatric and neurological hospitals or rehabilitation clinics (including day-patient treatment) | Days in hospital | Per diem costs by type (Federal Statistical Office, German Hospital Federation, Statutory Pension Insurance Fund [34]–[36]) |
Outpatient physician treatment | Treatment by GPs, specialists and outpatient clinics | Number of contacts | Calculated costs per contact, by specialization [37] |
Other outpatient treatment | E.g., physiotherapy, massage, occupational therapy, speech therapy | Number of contacts | Reimbursement schedules (Statutory health insurance funds [38]–[40]), calculated costs per contact [37], by type |
Medical supplies and dental prostheses | E.g., walkers, incontinence pads, hearing aids, surgical stockings; bridge, crown | Quantity | Reimbursement schedules (Statutory health insurance funds, Federal Association of Panel Dentists[41, 42]), calculated costs per item [37], by type |
Medication | Specific products (including trade name, drug code, package size, pharmaceutical form, dosage) | Quantity | Pharmacy retail prices (Rote Liste 2008 [43]) |
Nursing home care | Nursing home stays (residential and day care) | Days | Calculated costs of care per day (Federal Statistical Office [44]), by type |
Professional home care | Care and assistance provided by professional nursing services and other paid help, differentiated by type (e.g., basic care, assistance with cleaning, shopping, financial matters etc.) and limited to care or assistance required due to illness or age | Hours | Hourly gross wage rate plus non-wage labor costs for employees in the domain of care and assistance for the elderly or handicapped (Federal Statistical Office [45, 46]) |
Informal care | Care and assistance provided by family or friends, differentiated by type and limited to care or assistance required due to illness or age | Hours | Replacement cost method: Hourly gross wage rate plus non-wage labor costs for employees in the domain of care and assistance for the elderly or handicapped (Federal Statistical Office [45, 46]) |