Economic analysis of two models of low-risk maternity care: a freestanding birth center compared to traditional care.
Costs were compared for two models of maternity care for low-risk pregnant women: a freestanding birth center (FSBC) and a medical model of care (MC). Sixty-nine subjects were enrolled in the FSBC group and 77 in the MC. In the FSBC group, prenatal costs were higher (mean difference $751, p </=.001) and childbirth care was less expensive ($1472, p </=.01). When costs for the entire maternity care episode were summed, there were no differences between groups ($6087 vs. $6803). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the FSBC could be more cost-effective than MC if it increased its volume.
Stone
P W
PW
University of Rochester, School of Nursing, and Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642-8404, USA.
Zwanziger
J
J
Hinton Walker
P
P
Buenting
J
J
D000328:Adult; D016550:Birthing Centers / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003696:Delivery Rooms / Q000191:economics*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017059:Models, Econometric; D009518:New York; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000191:economics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity