Is nonadmission-based care for TIA patients cost-effective?: A microcosting study.

We previously demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of a nonadmission-based model for TIA care (Monash TIA Triaging Treatment [M3T]). In this microcosting study, we used a pre-post cohort design with multivariable uncertainty analyses to compare actual resource utilization costs between M3T (years 2004-2007) and the previous admission-based model (2003). Average total episode costs per patient were significantly less for M3T (Australian dollars [AUD] 1,927.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] AUD 1,829.00-1,037.00) compared with the admission-based model (AUD 4,841.00, 95% CI AUD 4,178.00-5,590.00). Nonadmission care in M3T was substantially cost-saving with a median 3 (95% uncertainty interval 0.7-6.0) additional strokes averted per 100 patients treated, based on an observed 90-day stroke rate of 1.50% (95% CI 0.73%-3.05%) and 4.67% (95% CI 2.28%-9.32%) in the admission-based model.