the costs of a newborn screening program

[Guest guest]

Subject: CF: Analysis of the costs of diagnosing cystic fibrosis with a

newborn screening program

J Pediatr 2003;142:617-23

June 2003 . Volume 142 . Number 6

Analysis of the costs of diagnosing cystic fibrosis

with a newborn screening program

Don S. Lee [MEDLINE LOOKUP]

Marjorie A. Rosenberg, PhD, FSA [MEDLINE LOOKUP]

[MEDLINE LOOKUP]

Makholm [MEDLINE LOOKUP]

Hoffman [MEDLINE LOOKUP]

H. Laessig, PhD [MEDLINE LOOKUP]

Philip M. Farrell, MD, PhD [MEDLINE LOOKUP]

Abstract

Objectives

To compare the cost of diagnosing cystic fibrosis (CF)

through a newborn screening program with the

traditional method and to estimate the cost of CF

diagnosis if a national newborn screening program is

implemented.

Study design

Surveys were conducted to determine the annual number

of sweat tests in 1991 and in 2000 after

implementation of statewide screening. A national

survey of sweat test costs was used to estimate the

annual expense for diagnosing CF in the United States

through newborn screening.

Results

Since the introduction of newborn screening for CF,

the numbers of sweat tests ordered annually have

decreased from 1670 to 804 (including 134 follow-up

tests from screening). The current estimated annual

cost of Wisconsin CF newborn screening and diagnosis

is $4.58 per newborn infant. The estimated annual cost

per newly diagnosed CF infant using the traditional

method is $4.97 per newborn infant. If no additional

sweat tests were ordered outside of the newborn

screening program, the estimated annual cost of a

Wisconsin CF newborn screening and diagnosis is $2.66

per newborn and $2.47 per newborn for a national CF

newborn screening program.

Conclusions

A CF newborn screening program provides a potentially

cost-saving alternative to the traditional method of

diagnosis of CF. (J Pediatr 2003;142:617-23)

Publishing and Reprint Information TOP

From the University of Wisconsin and the State

Laboratory of Hygiene, Madison, Wisconsin.

Supported by grants from the National Institutes of

Health (DK 34108 and M01 RR03186-from the National

Center for Research Resources to the University of

Wisconsin Medical School) and the Cystic Fibrosis

Foundation (A001-5-01).

Submitted for publication April 30, 2002;

revisions received September 5, 2002, and January 17,

2003;

accepted February 27, 2003.

Reprint requests: Philip M. Farrell, MD, PhD,

Professor of Pediatrics and Dean, University of

Wisconsin Medical School, Room 1217 MSC, 1300

University Ave, Madison, WI 53706-1532. E-mail:

pmfarrel@... .

Copyright © 2003, Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.