Assessing the input costs of disease management programs

Abstract

This paper presents a practical blueprint for modeling and evaluating the costs of disease interventions. Retrospective estimates of therapy costs and analyses of various treatment pathways are critical to projecting the likely cost impacts of disease management programs. This presentation outlines the information requirements necessary to identify baseline costs, to set cost outcomes targets, and to monitor costs over the life of an agreement. The chief components of this process are: (1) developing a framework for input cost analysis; (2) identifying costing requirements for various types of disease management interventions; (3) identifying key classifications in such a cost framework; and (4) identifying principal obstacles to cost assessment.