Expenditure mapping of pediatric imaging costs using a resource utilization band analysis of claims data

Objective

To segregate imaging expenditures from claims data by resource utilization bands (RUBs) and underlying conditions to create an “expenditure map” of pediatric imaging costs.

Methods

A Claims data for children enrolled in a commercial value-based plan were categorized by RUB 0 non-user, 1 healthy user, 2 low morbidity, 3 moderate morbidity, 4 high morbidity, & 5 very high morbidity. The per member per year (PMPY) expense, total imaging spend, and imaging modality with the highest spend were assessed for each RUB. Diagnosis categories associated with high imaging costs were also evaluated.

Results

There were 40,022 pediatric plan members. 14% had imaging-related claims accounting for approximately $2.8 million in expenditures. Member distribution and mean PMPY expenditure RUB was respectively: RUB 0 (3,037, $0), RUB 1 (6,604, $7), RUB 2 – 13,698, $27), RUB 3 – 13,341, $87), RUB 4 (2,810, $268), RUB 5 (532, $841). RUB 3 had the largest total imaging costs at $1,159,523. The imaging modality with the greatest mean PMPY expense varied by RUB with radiography highest in lower RUBs and MRI highest in higher RUBs. The top 3 diagnoses associated with the highest total imaging costs were developmental disorders ($443,980), asthma ($388,797), and congenital heart disease ($294,977) and greatest mean PMPY imaging expenditures malignancy/leukemia ($3,100), transplant ($2,639), and tracheostomy ($1,661).

Discussion

Expense mapping using claims data allows for a better understanding of the distribution of imaging costs across a covered pediatric population. This tool may assist organizations in planning effective cost-reduction initiatives and learning how imaging utilization varies by patient complexity in their system.