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Healthcare utilization and costs of Veterans screened and assessed for traumatic brain injury.
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Healthcare utilization and costs of Veterans screened and assessed for traumatic brain injury Kevin T. Stroupe, PhD; Bridget M. Smith, PhD; Timothy P. Hogan, PhD; Justin R. St. Andre, MA; Theresa Pape, DrPH, MA; Monica L. Steiner, MD; Eric Proescher, PsyD; Zhiping Huo, MS; Charlesnika T. Evans, MPH, PhD
Aim • Conduct national retrospective study of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) Veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care between 2007 and 2008. • Relevance • VA implemented national clinical reminder in 2007 to screen for traumatic brain injury (TBI). • Veterans who screen positive are referred for comprehensive TBI evaluation.
Method • Examined association between TBI screen and healthcare costs in year after initial evaluation. • Sample: • 164,438 Veterans met inclusion criteria. • 31,627 screened positive for TBI. • 118,545 screened negative for TBI. • 14,266 received no screening.
Results • Total healthcare costs (p < 0.001): • Screened positive: $9,610. • Screened negative: $5,184. • No TBI screen: $3,399.
Conclusion • Understanding healthcare utilization and cost patterns will help policy makers address ongoing and future healthcare needs of returning Veterans.