Parkinsonian Syndromes: Direct Costs of Inpatient Neurological Rehabilitation

Abstract

The Parkinsonian syndromes (PS) belong to the frequent chronic neurological disorders that, due to their progressive character and complex therapeutic options, pose a large economic burden. In a retrospective health economic study on the treatment of Parkinson's disease, various socioeconomic and clinical parameters were examined. In the years 2011-2012, a total of 29 patients with the diagnosis of a Parkinsonian syndrome who underwent an inpatient rehabilitation in the Department of Neurology of the Rehabilitation MediClin Center Bad Orb were recruited. For this group of patients, we calculated the direct treatment cost and also analyzed the treatment cost based on the German diagnosis-related groups (G-DRG, version 2012). The direct medical costs amounted to € 113.47±13.10 per patient per day. Furthermore, cost simulation and comparison revealed significantly higher cost per day for those patients insured via the German statutory health insurance who undergo inpatient care service based on the DRG-based payment (€ 241.77 vs. 171.74; p≤0.015). This study contributes to the achievement of transparency of the direct medical costs of Parkinson's disease treatment in the inpatient setting and emphasizes the cost differences compared to the G-DRG-based payment.