Dialysis costs: Results of a diverse sample study

Abstract

A study of dialysis costs in five major dialysis centers throughout the United States was conducted in 1973. When available, home, home training, limited care, satellite and in-hospital-full-care dialysis were included. The study's objective was to determine the cost per dialysis for each separate dialysis modality. All costs associated with the dialysis procedure were included. Using a uniform methodology, costs were collected on four care levels which vary significantly from each other in the use of direct labor. They are as follows: home, home care training, limited care and full care. Costs were also segregated into five expenditure categories: personnel, supplies, travel, equipment and other. They study was designed to show the range of costs in five "representative" centers throughout the country, but not to provide statistical "average" of dialysis costs. Cost per dialysis ranged from $33 to 66 for the home patient group, $100 to 116 for limited care, $144 to 172 for in-hospital and $146 to 259 for the home training units.