O-024 Medicare Underpayment is a Major Cause of Deficit in Endovascular Treatment of Aneurysms

Background Coiling remains the current primary therapy for aneurysms. Understanding the economics of coiling will establish a framework against which the financial impact of future devices may be measured. Methodology A retrospective analysis of 542 aneurysm coilings was performed. Of these, financial-data was available on 377 patients. This included the DRG-code, hospital charges, total-cost, implant-cost, payments received, the payer and the length of stay for each admission. Treatment parameters included aneurysm size, type and number of coils, and use of adjunctive devices. We hypothesised that aneurysm size, rupture-status, number of coils and adjunctive devices would impact the financial outcome. Results 235(62.3%) aneurysms were treated electively while 142(37.7%) were ruptured. The length of stay was 2.5(±5) days for elective and 17.7(±13) days for ruptured aneurysms (p 11 mm group. The number of coils/aneurysm was 4.1(±2.8) for the 11 mm-group, (p The mean payments by payer (Figure 1) and the difference between total-cost and payments by payer (Figure 2) show that apart from Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Commercial insurance, every other payer averaged a net loss-for the hospital. There was no impact of the rupture status, age, gender, aneurysm size, use of adjunctive device on the net deficit to the hospital. Conclusion In our Medicare/Medicaid heavy population, the payer-mix was an overwhelmingly significant financial determinant in aneurysm treatment. Contrary to our hypothesis, none of the other factors impacted the average net deficit that the hospital suffered in these cases. Disclosures A. Rai: 2; C; Stryker Neurovascular, Codman Neuro. A. Tarabishy: None. B. Cline: None. J. Patterson: None. S. Boo: None. J. Carpenter: None.