Healthcare utilization and costs of Veterans screened and assessed for traumatic brain injury.
Approximately 15% of casualties in the Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom [OEF]) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom [OIF]) conflicts received mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). To identify Veterans who may benefit from treatment, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented a national clinical reminder in 2007 to screen for TBI. Veterans who screen positive are referred for a comprehensive TBI evaluation. We conducted a national retrospective study of OIF/OEF Veterans receiving care at VA facilities between 2007 and 2008. We examined the association of the TBI screen with healthcare costs over a 12 mo period following the initial evaluation. Of the Veterans, 164,438 met inclusion criteria: 31,627 screened positive, 118,545 screened negative, and 14,266 received no TBI screening. Total healthcare costs of Veterans who screened positive, screened negative, or had no TBI screening were $9,610, $5,184, and $3,399, respectively (p < 0.001). Understanding these healthcare utilization and cost patterns will assist policymakers to address the ongoing and future healthcare needs of these returning Veterans.
Center for Management of Complex Chronic Care, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, 5000 South 5th Ave, (151H) Bldg 1B260, Hines, IL 60141. kevin.stroupe@va.gov.
Kevin T
KT
Stroupe
Bridget M
BM
Smith
Timothy P
TP
Hogan
Justin R
JR
St Andre
Theresa
T
Pape
Monica L
ML
Steiner
Eric
E
Proescher
Zhiping
Z
Huo
Charlesnika T
CT
Evans
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Department of Veterans Affairs; Operation Enduring Freedom; Operation Iraqi Freedom; Veterans; cost analysis; evaluation; head injury; healthcare costs; healthcare utilization; traumatic brain injury