Methods for estimating medical expenditures attributable to intimate partner violence.
This article compares three methods for estimating the medical cost burden of intimate partner violence against U.S. adult women (18 years and older), 1 year postvictimization. To compute the estimates, prevalence data from the National Violence Against Women Survey are combined with cost data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the Medicare 5% sample, and published studies and with relative risk estimates from published studies. Results are compared and reasons for difference are explored, including the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Estimates of the medical cost burden of intimate partner violence within the first 12 months after victimization range from USD 2.3 billion to USD 7.0 billion, depending on the method used. Although limited to women victimized in the last year, each method reveals that intimate partner violence imposes a substantial burden on the health care system. Among the approaches, there is no clear gold standard nor any evidence of bias.
Brown
Derek S
DS
RTI International, Public Health Economics Program, 3040 Cornwallis Road, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA. dsbrown@rti.org
Finkelstein
Eric A
EA
Mercy
James A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000191:economics*; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data