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Factors associated with hospitalization charges for cleft palate repairs and revisions
Veerasathpurush Allareddy1, Khadijah Turkistani, Vikrum Nanda
1Predoctoral Orthodontics, Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA. VA15@hsdm.harvard.edu
Insights
This study analyzed cleft palate repair costs, finding that insurance, race, and age influence hospitalization charges. These findings offer insights into the financial aspects of cleft palate correction and revision procedures.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Pediatric Surgery
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Cleft palate repair and revision are common pediatric surgical procedures.
- Understanding factors influencing hospitalization charges is crucial for healthcare cost management.
- Nationally representative data on cleft palate procedures and associated costs are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the national rates of cleft palate correction and revision surgeries in hospitalized patients.
- To identify patient- and hospital-level factors associated with hospitalization charges for these procedures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for the year 2007.
- Selected hospitalizations involving cleft palate repair or revision.
- Employed multivariable linear regression to analyze factors influencing hospitalization charges.
Main Results:
- Over 5,969 cleft palate repair/revision procedures were identified nationally.
- Mean hospitalization charge was $19,227, totaling $112.96 million nationally.
- Charges varied significantly by age, race, insurance payer, and use of bone morphogenetic protein.
Conclusions:
- Hospitalization charges for cleft palate procedures are associated with insurance status, race, specific treatments, and patient age.
- Provides essential national estimates for managing cleft palate corrections and revisions.
Purpose:
The objective of this study is to provide nationally representative estimates of cleft palate correction and revision procedures performed in hospitalized patients, as well as to examine patient- and hospital-level factors associated with hospitalization charges.
Materials And Methods:
The Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the year 2007 was used. All hospitalizations that had a cleft palate correction or revision of cleft palate repair were selected. Estimates of concomitant procedures performed during the index hospitalization were obtained. The roles of different patient- and hospital-level variables on hospitalization charges were examined by use of multivariable linear regression analysis.
Results:
A total of 5,969 repairs and/or revisions of cleft palate procedures were performed in hospitals in the entire United States. The mean age per hospitalization was 3.2 years. Whites accounted for 51.3% of procedures, whereas blacks, Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and other races accounted for 4.9%, 26.4%, 9.2%, 3.2%, and 5%, respectively. The mean charge per each hospitalization was $19,227, and the total hospitalization charge for the entire United States was $112.96 million. Patients aged less than 1 year (P = .02) and those aged between 8 and 12 years (P = .03) had significantly lower charges compared with those aged 18 years or older. Use of bone morphogenetic protein was associated with higher hospital charges (P = .0006). Compared with the uninsured, those covered by Medicaid (P = .04), private insurance plans (P = .02), and other insurance plans (P = .0005) were associated with higher charges.
Conclusion:
This study identified an association between hospital charges and insurance payer, race, treatments performed, and age. Our results provide insights into nationally representative estimates on management of cleft palate corrections and revisions.
