Direct Medical Costs

Overall, ambulatory care visits accounted for the largest share of per-person direct cost for persons with a spine condition. At an average cost of $3,077 per-person between 2009 and 2011, an increase of 81% from 1996 to 1998, ambulatory care accounted for 38% of per person direct cost between 2009 and 2011. While the share of mean per-person cost for inpatient care dropped from 36% to 28% between 1996 and 1998 and 2009 to 2011, the mean cost rose from $1,755 to $2,267, an increase of 29%. At the same time, the average per-person cost for prescriptions rose from $650 to $1,736, in 2011 dollars, an increase of 167%. (Reference Table 10.4 PDF [1] CSV [2])

Total direct per-person health care costs for persons with a spine condition were $8,150, and increase of 69% since 1996 to 1998. Incremental direct per-person costs, those costs most likely attributable to a spine condition, rose from $934 to $1,496, in 2011 dollars, an increase of 60%. (Reference Table 10.6 PDF [3] CSV [4])

Total aggregate direct costs for persons with a spine condition were $253 billion in 2009 to 2011, a rise of 91% from the $132.4 billion in 1996 to 1998, in 2011 dollars. Incremental aggregate direct costs increased from $25.6 billion in 1996 to 1998 to $46.4 billion in 2009 to 2011, an increase of 82%.