Bariatric Surgery Costs in Chile: Cost of a Comprehensive, Evidence-Based, and High-Quality of Care Program
Author(s)
Daniela Paredes, BSc, MPH1, Rony C. Lenz, BEc, MA, MD2, Rodrigo Muñoz Claro, MD, PhD3;
1Medtronic, Health Economics & Reimbursement, Santiago, Chile, 2Lenz Consultores, Santiago, Chile, 3Sociedad Chilena de Cirugía Bariátrica y Metabólica, Santiago, Chile
1Medtronic, Health Economics & Reimbursement, Santiago, Chile, 2Lenz Consultores, Santiago, Chile, 3Sociedad Chilena de Cirugía Bariátrica y Metabólica, Santiago, Chile
OBJECTIVES: Within the context of implementing the bariatric surgery program in Chile, the service capacity increased from 620 to over 24,000 surgeries annually. The program funds intra-operative, post-operative periods, follow-up, and complications; however, it does not include pre-operative financing or provide evidence-based management guidelines to align service delivery with specific costs.
METHODS: Cost study of bariatric sleeve and bypass surgeries, from the public insurer's perspective, focusing on a comprehensive, evidence-based, high-quality program. Cost estimation combined statistical and expert elicitation methods, along with a review and consensus on best practices for surgical care. Key cost drivers were identified, quantified (frequency and risk estimation), and valued in CLP 2024, including bed-days, medical consultations, medical devices and supplies, operating room, and lab work, categorized by pre-operative, intra-operative, post-operative phases, follow-up during the first year, and serious and non-serious complications.
RESULTS: The comprehensive sleeve bariatric surgery program costs CLP$5,504,666, covering pre-operative (CLP$442,258; 8.0%), intra-operative (CLP$4,054,493; 73.7%), post-operative care (CLP$296,246; 5.4%), serious complication (CLP$92,056; 1.7%), non-serious complication (CLP$7,721; 0.1%), and follow-up (CLP$611,894; 11.1%). Costs related to the operating room (CLP$2,242,645; 40.74%) and medical devices, supplies, and medications (CLP$1,633,007; 29.67%), and lab work and imaging (CLP$645,605; 11.73%) were the most significant. The comprehensive bypass surgery program costs CLP$5,770,336, with pre-operative (CLP$442,258; 7.7%), intra-operative ($CLP4,246,133; 73.6%), post-operative (CLP$296,246; 5.1%), serious complication (CLP$237,575; 4.1%), non-serious complication (CLP$7,721; 0.1%), and follow-up (CLP$540,404; 9.4%). Operating room (CLP$2,430,263; 42.12%), medical devices, supplies, and medications (CLP$1,698,648; 29.44%), and medical consultations (CLP$602,020; 10.43%) were the costliest.
CONCLUSIONS: The analysis highlights the significant cost components in bariatric surgery, with operating room and medical device expenses being the most substantial. Future strategies should consider integrating pre-operative care and evidence-based guidelines to optimize program efficiency and patient outcomes.
METHODS: Cost study of bariatric sleeve and bypass surgeries, from the public insurer's perspective, focusing on a comprehensive, evidence-based, high-quality program. Cost estimation combined statistical and expert elicitation methods, along with a review and consensus on best practices for surgical care. Key cost drivers were identified, quantified (frequency and risk estimation), and valued in CLP 2024, including bed-days, medical consultations, medical devices and supplies, operating room, and lab work, categorized by pre-operative, intra-operative, post-operative phases, follow-up during the first year, and serious and non-serious complications.
RESULTS: The comprehensive sleeve bariatric surgery program costs CLP$5,504,666, covering pre-operative (CLP$442,258; 8.0%), intra-operative (CLP$4,054,493; 73.7%), post-operative care (CLP$296,246; 5.4%), serious complication (CLP$92,056; 1.7%), non-serious complication (CLP$7,721; 0.1%), and follow-up (CLP$611,894; 11.1%). Costs related to the operating room (CLP$2,242,645; 40.74%) and medical devices, supplies, and medications (CLP$1,633,007; 29.67%), and lab work and imaging (CLP$645,605; 11.73%) were the most significant. The comprehensive bypass surgery program costs CLP$5,770,336, with pre-operative (CLP$442,258; 7.7%), intra-operative ($CLP4,246,133; 73.6%), post-operative (CLP$296,246; 5.1%), serious complication (CLP$237,575; 4.1%), non-serious complication (CLP$7,721; 0.1%), and follow-up (CLP$540,404; 9.4%). Operating room (CLP$2,430,263; 42.12%), medical devices, supplies, and medications (CLP$1,698,648; 29.44%), and medical consultations (CLP$602,020; 10.43%) were the costliest.
CONCLUSIONS: The analysis highlights the significant cost components in bariatric surgery, with operating room and medical device expenses being the most substantial. Future strategies should consider integrating pre-operative care and evidence-based guidelines to optimize program efficiency and patient outcomes.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
HSD98
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)