Health Care Use, Costs, and Survival Trajectory of Home Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation

What is it about?

Despite expert advice, there is insufficient evidence that mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) is beneficial in reducing respiratory morbidity, as well as the associated healthcare usage and expenditures for people with neuromuscular diseases. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of providing publicly subsidized MI-E devices on health care usage, expenses, and survival trajectory.

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Why is it important?

We found that the use of publicly funded MI-E devices had no effect on the number of ED visits or hospital admissions, but it did shift health care consumption and expenses from acute to community care. Although the cost reductions from physician billings were offset by higher community costs, data indicated cost savings from fewer hospital days and specialist visits. We also found that  Individuals who required multiple medical technologies had the highest risk of death