The revenue from finger replantation and revision amputation: Is it cost-covering?

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Finger amputation injuries are frequently treated conditions in occupational accident hospitals. They are either treated by replantation or revision amputation. The costs of these two treatment options differ significantly. This study aims to determine if the revenue generated from the treatment of finger amputation injuries in the German DRG system is cost-covering and if there are differences depending on the type of health insurance. Based on our hospital's cost data from the years 2014 and 2015, we performed an analysis of the revenue generated from finger replantation and finger revision amputation and compared it with the cost data of the nationwide calculation hospitals in Germany. In addition, we compared the revenue generated from patients with statutory health insurance with the revenue from patients with workers' compensation insurance. During the study period, a total of 90 patients were treated for finger amputation. For primary finger revision amputation, the actual costs were lower compared to the cost data of the nationwide calculation hospitals (€ 3551 vs. € 3809, p = 0.442). After deduction of all costs, the revenue was 1,008 Euros for patients with statutory health insurance and 688 Euros for patients with workers' compensation insurance (p = 0.578). In contrast, the costs of complex finger reconstruction procedures were considerably underestimated. In cases of primary finger replantation or secondary finger revision amputation, losses of 260 Euros were recorded for patients with statutory health insurance. In patients with workers' compensation insurance, the revenue of complex finger reconstruction procedures after deduction of all costs was cost-covering (€ 900, p = 0.403). In the German DRG system, the reimbursement for the treatment of finger amputation depends on the type of health insurance. In patients with workers' compensation insurance, cost-covering revenue is generated from both finger revision amputation and finger replantation, whereas in patients with statutory health insurance, only the revenue of primary finger revision amputation appears to be cost-covering. Hence for finger amputation injuries with subsequent complex reconstruction procedures, a revision of the cost calculation is required to avoid inappropriate incentives in patient care.