Table 1 Recorded resource utilization and source of valuation (Adapted from [45])
From: Associations of frailty with health care costs – results of the ESTHER cohort study
Health care sector | Example of resources | Unit | Soource |
|---|---|---|---|
In-patient treatment | Stays in general hospitals, specialized psychiatric and neurological hospitals or rehabilitation clinics (including day patient treatment) | Days in hospital | Calculated costs of care per day by type (Federal Statistical Office, German Hospital Federation, Statutory Pension Insurance Fund) [31–33] |
Out-patient physician treatment | Treatment by GPs, specialists and out-patient clinics | Number of visits | Calculated costs per contact, by specialization [34] |
Other out-patient treatment | E.g. physiotherapy, massage, occupational therapy, non-medical practitioner | Number of visits | Reimbursement schedules (Statutory health insurance funds; [35–37], calculated costs per contact [34], by type, schedule of fees (Federal office of administration) [38] |
Medical supplies and dental prostheses | E.g. walkers, incontinence pads, hearing aids, surgical stockings, dental bridge, crown | Quantity | Reimbursement schedules (Statutory health insurance funds, Federal Association of Panel Dentists; [39, 40], calculated costs per item [34], by type |
Pharmaceuticals | Specific products (including trade name, drug code, package size, pharmaceutical form, dosage) | Quantity | Pharmacy retail prices (MMI-Pharmindex, Medizinverlag Medizinische Medien Informations GmbH (MMI, Neu-Isenburg) [41] |
Nursing home care | Nursing home stays (residential and day care) | Days | Calculated costs of care per day (Federal Statistical Office) [42], 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 owing 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) [43, 44] |
Informal care | Care and assistance provided by family or friends, differentiated by type and limited to care or assistance required owing 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) [43, 44] |