Cost of managing an episode of relapse in multiple sclerosis in the United States

Table 1 Mean unit costs by major cost categories. Overall costs are weighted average of component costs applied to the proportion of patients using the service. Thus, the individual components will not add up to the overall cost

Management level	Cost component	Unit	Mean Unit Cost 2002 US $
Low	Overall cost	Per episode	243
	Physician visits	Per episode	170
	Symptom-related medications	Per episode	73
Medium	Overall cost	Per episode	1,847
	ER visit	Per visit	475
	Observation unit	Per stay	2,111
	Initial office visit for acute problem with CBC, BMP	Per visit	240
	IV Methylprednisolone:
	Day case	Per episode	3,184
	Home care	Per episode	792
	Symptom-related medications	Per episode	73
	Other diagnostic and laboratory tests	Per episode	849
	Therapies (i.e., PT, OT, ST)	Per episode	207
High	Overall cost	Per episode	12,870
	Acute hospital	Per stay	8,782
	Post-discharge	Per episode	4,088
	Rehabilitation facility	Per stay	14,943
	Skilled nursing facility	Per stay	10,514
	Short term nursing home	Per stay	12,894
	Home heath care services	Per episode	2,043
	Outpatient care	Per episode	114

(Abbreviations: ER = emergency room, CBC= complete blood count, BMP=basic metabolic profile, PT = physical therapy, OT = occupational therapy, ST=speech therapy)

ISSN: 1472-6963