OBJECTIVES

: In an environment of increasing financial scarcity, re-allocation of resources will be necessary to fund home health care for an aging population. However, the health technology management (HTM) tools available to decision makers do not adequately facilitate the economic analyses that must take place in order to optimize distribution of resource.

METHODS

: Administrative data from a Canadian health region was used to observe demographic trends in over 15,000 patients receiving home health services between 2009-2015 and to conduct a forecast of future costs. A Markov Economic Model was also built to create a platform for simulation and evaluation of new home health interventions as part of the health region’s HTM strategy. Finally, a web-based interface was developed to enable usability of the economic model by decision makers.

RESULTS

: The population of seniors receiving home health is decreasing as a proportion of the entire seniors population. While age and sex has remained stable, home support services are decreasing while acute use is increasing. These findings are very similar to an analysis from 1994-2005 suggesting that trends may not have changed dramatically over this period. Overall, the expenditure on home health and acute services increased, and is projected to grow from $175,810,652.55 in 2015 to $224,551,819.45 in 2020.

The Markov Economic Model is currently being tested with decision makers in the health region. An online interactive version of the model will be available as part of this post presentation, and a live simulation of a ‘Paramedic Palliative Care’ intervention will be conducted for poster viewers via Ipad.

CONCLUSIONS

: This research project represents a novel development in modeling and analysis that is relevant to researchers and decision makers interested in the financial underpinnings of priority setting in home health delivery for seniors specifically, and the sustainability of health systems via HTM more generally.