Cost implications for changing candidacy or access to service within a publicly funded healthcare system?

Abstract

Introduction: Undue attention in the allocation of healthcare resources can be given to expenditures as opposed to expenditures avoided. This can be particularly apparent when expenditures avoided fall across different budget holders and budgetary pressures are strained. Methods: The paper presents estimates of the potential savings attributable to the adoption of new hearing assistive technologies in Britain between 1992 and 2014 based on multivariate analyses of survey data. Results: The reduction in service use among the hearing impaired between 1992 and 2014 is estimated to amount to between £53 and £92 million per annum. Conclusion: Issues in estimating the impact of widening candidature for cochlear implants on costs exist related to potential savings. This research begins to lay a firmer evidence base for such work as well as identifying some of the challenges.