Financing NICU Follow-Up Programs

Abstract

There is limited information available for public review outside of anecdotal reports and published surveys about NICU follow-up clinic revenues versus expenditures in part because this is considered confidential business information. In survey responses, both private and academic follow-up programs report that they obtain funding from a variety of sources including hospital and/or department, clinical revenue from insurance billing, research grants, and other state and government programs. Obtaining adequate funding is often cited as a concern for these clinics. Insurance issues, travel distance, and travel costs have been cited by families as the most frequent reasons for noncompliance with clinic attendance in studies of follow- up appointment compliance. Family-centered follow-up programs will need to demonstrate their worth to their shareholders in the community and local hospitals. Clinic programs will need to consider the cost to families in their structure and development of their follow-up program.