OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze costs for rotator cuff repair (RCR) procedures in Indonesia's resource-limited context, determine the burden of RCR, and suggest national prices for RCR reimbursement.

METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 on the cost of RCR from a payer perspective using inpatient billing records in two hospitals. The national burden of RCR was calculated, and projected national prices for reimbursement were determined.

RESULTS: Of the 50 RCRs, 40 (80%) were isolated supraspinatus repair (SS), and 10 (20%) were combined with subscapularis repair (SSc). The mean hospital costs provoked per RCR procedure were US$3,947, with the dominant cost being related to orthopedic-implants prices (US$2,474). The costs of RCR with combined both SS and SSc were estimated as being 72% higher than isolated SS. However, the average payment from the Indonesian national insurance for RCRs was US$850. The national burden of RCR showed a total budget of US$ 394,7 million per 100.000 patients (0.03% of Indonesian GDP).

CONCLUSIONS: RCR procedures in Indonesia are likely under-budgeted. Adjustments of reimbursement prices for RCR procedures are needed to facilitate adequate access to RCR procedures for Indonesian people. This study demonstrated varying cost determined for RCR in Indonesia, entailing a new reimbursement system with improvement of the national prices becoming the nuclei into transformation.