Cost estimates for operating a primary care practice facilitation program.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Primary Care Practice Redesign
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Practice facilitation is a key strategy for large-scale practice redesign.
• Limited data exists on the cost of practice facilitation for small primary care practices from the facilitator's organizational perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the variable costs associated with providing practice facilitation to small primary care practices.
• To understand the cost breakdown of different facilitation activities.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study involving 19 primary care practices in South Texas receiving facilitation activities.
• Tracking of variable costs including facilitator time, mileage, and materials over one year.
• Exclusion of fixed and administrative costs.

Main Results:

• Median total variable cost was $9,670 per practice, ranging from $8,050 to $15,682.
• Practice assessment and start-up activities accounted for 50% of total costs.
• Increased intervention intensity (24 visits) raised costs to $15,098.

Conclusions:

• Annual practice facilitation costs range from $9,670 to $15,098 per practice, influenced by facilitator wages and intervention intensity.
• Practice facilitation could be cost-neutral societally if it reduces hospitalizations by two per practice annually.