Economic impact of comorbid TBI-dementia on VA facility and non-VA facility costs, 2000-2020
Dismuke-Greer CE, Esmaeili A, Karmarkar AM, Davis B, Garcia C, Pugh MJ, Yaffe K. Economic impact of comorbid TBI-dementia on VA facility and non-VA facility costs, 2000-2020. Brain Injury. 2022 April;36(5):673-682. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2022.2034045
Main Question
There is evidence Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is associated with increased risk of dementia (D). We compared VA and non-VA facility costs associated with TBI+D and each diagnosis alone, relative to neither diagnosis, annually and over time, 2000-2020.
Study Findings
The main cost driver was inpatient non-VA facility costs. Veterans had continuously increasing inpatient care costs in non-VA facilities over time since their TBI and dementia diagnoses.
Practical Uses
Given budget constraints on the VA system, quality of care in non-VA facilities warrants comparison with VA facilities to make informed decisions regarding referrals to non-VA facilities.
In an effort to provide the latest findings to our consumers as quickly as possible, some of these studies, while fully peer reviewed, have not been presented or published either electronically or in print. Findings are presented for informational purposes only and should not be cited or referenced until they are formally published or presented.