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Cost and Reimbursement for Three Fibroid Treatments: Abdominal Hysterectomy, Abdominal Myomectomy, and Uterine Fibroid Embolization

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Abstract

Purpose

To compare costs and reimbursements for three different treatments for uterine fibroids.

Methods

Costs and reimbursements were collected and analyzed from the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital decision support database from 540 women who underwent abdominal hysterectomy (n = 299), abdominal myomectomy (n = 105), or uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) (n = 136) for uterine fibroids during 2000–2002. We used the chi-square test and ANOVA, followed by Fisher’s Least Significant Difference test, for statistical analysis.

Results

The mean total hospital cost (US$) for UFE was $2,707, which was significantly less than for hysterectomy ($5,707) or myomectomy ($5,676) (p < 0.05). The mean hospital net income (hospital net reimbursement minus total hospital cost) for UFE was $57, which was significantly greater than for hysterectomy (−$572) or myomectomy (-$715) (p < 0.05). The mean professional (physician) reimbursements for UFE, hysterectomy, and myomectomy were $1,306, $979, and $1,078, respectively.

Conclusion

UFE has lower hospital costs and greater hospital net income than abdominal hysterectomy or abdominal myomectomy for treating uterine fibroids. UFE may be more financially advantageous than hysterectomy or myomectomy for the insurer, hospital, and health care system. Costs and reimbursements may vary amongst different hospitals and regions.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Elizabeth Moxey, MBA, for her assistance in database analysis and Joanne Armstrong, M.D., for her editing suggestions.

Preliminary data from this study were presented at the Advances in Uterine Leiomyoma Research, NIH 2nd International Congress, Bethesda, February 2005, and the ACOG Annual Clinical Meeting, San Francisco, May 2005.

J.G. serves as a consultant for Biosphere Medical Inc., Rockland, MA, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jefferson Medical College, 834 Chestnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Jay Goldberg & Anne Bussard

  2. Department of Finance, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Jean McNeil

  3. Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    James Diamond

Authors
  1. Jay Goldberg
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  2. Anne Bussard
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  3. Jean McNeil
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  4. James Diamond
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jay Goldberg.

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Goldberg, J., Bussard, A., McNeil, J. et al. Cost and Reimbursement for Three Fibroid Treatments: Abdominal Hysterectomy, Abdominal Myomectomy, and Uterine Fibroid Embolization. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 30, 54–58 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-005-0369-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-005-0369-5

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