Cost of chronic disease care

The purpose of this paper is to measure the cost of medical care for a population of chronically ill patients referred for continuing care to decentralized clinics. Each patient had either hypertension, cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus or a combination of these conditions. Most patients were elderly; the average age was 60.7 yr. We found the average cost of medical care per patient per year was $611. Hospital services, i.e. hospitalizations, emergency department visits and hospital outpatient visits accounted for 74% of the costs or $453/patient/yr. Costs of visits to the decentralized clinics and laboratory tests ordered there averaged $105/yr. Costs of medications dispensed to the patients through the health department averaged $57/yr. We conclude that economical care of chronic disease patients can be provided over long periods of time by specially trained, physician-backed nurses in decentralized clinics.