Official websites use .gov
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A policy analysis of access to post-acute rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury in Massachusetts and beyond
A policy analysis of access to post-acute rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury in Massachusetts and beyond
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Issue brief (Massachusetts Health Policy Forum)
- Author(s):
- Lorenz, Laura, author
Doonan, Michael, author - Contributor(s):
- Massachusetts Health Policy Forum, issuing body.
- Publication:
- [Waltham, Massachusetts] : The Massachusetts Health Policy Forum, 2019
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Brain Injuries -- rehabilitation
Health Services Accessibility
Subacute Care
Massachusetts
United States - Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Acquired brain injuries (ABI)--from trauma, stroke, infectious diseases, and brain tumors--are a serious public health issue affecting individuals, families, and communities. Advances in emergency medicine and improved acute care have significantly increased the likelihood of surviving a severe brain injury. However, the American health care system comes up short on providing appropriate access to post-acute rehabilitation leading to higher health care costs and reduced quality of life. The lack of access to post-acute rehabilitation after a severe brain injury limits opportunities for patients to return to work and have better function and quality of life, increases family caregiving and economic burdens, and strains public liabilities for long-term care. Post-acute rehabilitation is interdisciplinary--supporting physical, cognitive, and social skills--and intensive. Access can be limited by lack of insurance, lack of coverage or limits to coverage for rehabilitation, lack of services available close to home, and lack of understanding of the beneficial impact of rehabilitation access. Providing appropriate post-acute rehabilitation services benefits physical, cognitive, and emotional/behavioral function, return to work, independence, participation in the community. Access also reduces the total cost of their health care, particularly long-term care costs. Existing data, information, expert opinion, and patient experience support the effectiveness of rehabilitation services at improving function after severe brain injury. We conducted an analysis of studies published in the last 20 years exploring outcomes and cost-effectiveness from access to rehabilitation after a serious acquired brain injury requiring hospitalization. Our analysis shows that on average the cost of rehabilitation is offset (recouped) in between 1 and 5 years. Patients with more severe injuries and higher dependency offset the cost of rehabilitation in a shorter time period. Average savings in a range of studies were estimated at $1.67 million per patient over their lifetime. These savings do not include a decrease in social costs gained from less reliance on other government programs, improved return to work rates, and benefits to families and society through easing of family caregiving and economic burdens.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-ND license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (40 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101770872 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101770872