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Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
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Economical aspects of coronary angiography for diagnostic purposes: a Belgian perspective

Lennert Minten1,2, Christophe Dubois1,2, Walter Desmet1,2

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Kaholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Acta Cardiologica
|November 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Coronary angiography (CA) procedures in Belgium are not financially sustainable under current reimbursement rates. Hospitals need to perform 9 CAs daily to break even, but typically perform only 7, impacting financial viability.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Health Economics

Background:

  • Coronary angiography (CA) is a frequently performed diagnostic procedure in Belgium.
  • There is a growing need to assess the financial viability of healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the financial aspects of coronary angiography (CA) in a Belgian tertiary hospital.
  • To determine if current reimbursement rates are adequate for CA procedures.

Main Methods:

  • Cost analysis including catheterization laboratory use, personnel, and material costs.
  • Data collected during multiple weekly periods in spring 2023.
  • Calculated break-even point for CA procedures per day.

Main Results:

  • A break-even point of 8.21 CA procedures per day was calculated.
  • To achieve a small profit, 9 CA procedures per day are required.
  • The hospital's average of 7 CA procedures per day falls below the break-even point.

Conclusions:

  • Current reimbursement for coronary angiography in Belgium is insufficient to cover costs and generate income.
  • The financial performance of CA procedures in the studied hospital is suboptimal.
  • Exclusion of fractional flow reserve (FFR) analysis makes the findings conservative.

Keywords:
BelgiumCoronary angiographycoronary artery diseasecostseconomical aspectsfractional flow reservehealth policy

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