Fetal alcohol syndrome prevention: annual and cumulative cost savings

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a common developmental disability. FAS is thought to be 100% preventable. While this is a theoretical truth, a prevention rate of 100% appears unlikely in the near future. However, several prevention strategies are available. In this paper, we examine the potential cost savings from prevention of one case of FAS each year in the state of North Dakota. We utilized the North Dakota Health Claims Database to examine annual cost of health care for children birth through 21 years of age with FAS and controls. The mean annual cost of health care for children birth through 21 years of age with FAS was US2842 dollars (n=45). This is US2342 dollars per capita more than the annual average cost of care for children in North Dakota who do not have FAS (US$500 per year). Prevention of one case of FAS per year in North Dakota would result in a cost savings of US128,810 dollars in 10 years and US491,820 dollars after 20 years. After 10 years of prevention, the annual savings in health care costs alone for one case of FAS would be US23,420 dollars.