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Average charges for coronary artery bypass grafts and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties, 1995
Insights
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery averaged $44,820 in 1995, over double the cost of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Regional cost variations were significant for both procedures, with hospital charges dominating total costs.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Medical Procedure Cost Analysis
Background:
- In 1995, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures were significantly more expensive than percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
- Understanding cost variations is crucial for healthcare policy and patient financial planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the average charges and length of stay for CABG and PTCA procedures in 1995.
- To identify regional and component-specific (hospital vs. physician) cost differences for these cardiovascular interventions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of patient data from 1995, comparing charges and hospitalization duration for CABG and PTCA.
- Examination of cost breakdowns, including hospital and physician fees, across different geographic regions.
Main Results:
- The average charge for CABG was $44,820, more than double the PTCA average of $20,370.
- Significant regional disparities were observed, with the Middle Atlantic and Western regions showing higher-than-average costs for both procedures.
- Hospital charges constituted the majority of total costs for both CABG (73%) and PTCA (77%).
- CABG patients had a longer average hospital stay (8.32 days) compared to PTCA patients (3.86 days).
Conclusions:
- Substantial cost variations exist for CABG and PTCA procedures, influenced by geographic location and the proportion of hospital versus physician charges.
- The findings highlight the need for further investigation into the drivers of these cost differences to promote healthcare affordability and efficiency.
Abstract:
In 1995 the average charge for a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) among 1,643 patients age 30 and over was $44,820. This charge was more than twice that for 3,569 patients undergoing a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)-$20,370. The Middle Atlantic area reported the highest average charge for a CABG (18 percent above the norm) due mainly to the high charge in Pennsylvania, which was 37 percent higher than the national average. Each of the four regions west of the Mississippi River had higher than average charges for both revascularization procedures. The lowest charge for a CABG was reported in West Virginia-36 percent below the average and less than half the Pennsylvania charge Arizona, California and Illinois had the highest average PTCA charges, each 20 percent or more above that for the U.S. The lowest PTCA charge was reported in Ohio ($14,680), 28 percent lower than the U.S. average and 42 percent lower than in Arizona Hospital charges accounted for 73 percent of the total CABG charge and 77 percent of the PTCA total. Physician charges were the highest in New York and New Jersey for CABGs (each 31 percent above the average) and the lowest in Colorado (37 percent below). For PTCAs, the physicians' fees were the highest in Indiana, Connecticut and New York (between 18 and 21 percent above the norm) and lowest in Washington (25 percent below). CABG patients remained hospitalized for 8.32 days, more than twice the number of days for the PTCA (3.86 days).