Publications

Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2002

March 2003

For the American Diabetes Association, The Lewin Group conducted a study on the national cost of diabetes. We estimated that diabetes cost the nation approximately $132 billion in 2002, with direct medical expenditures totaling $91.2 billion and indirect expenditures (resulting from lost work days, restricted activity days, mortality and permanent disability) totaling $39.8 billion.

Client Area: Associations
Expertise Area: Chronic Disease / Cost of Illness

Cost Effectiveness and Cost Benefit Analysis of Substance Abuse Treatment: An Annotated Bibliography

June 2002

This bibliography lists books, published articles and research/evaluation studies, and government documents (including "Web" publications) published since 1980 that focus on the costs of substance abuse treatment, methods for estimating the costs of treatment, and studies of the cost effectiveness and cost benefits of substance abuse treatment. This document also identifies trends and areas where there are gaps in the literature. A companion document, Cost Effectiveness and Cost Benefit Analysis of Substance Abuse Treatment: A Literature Review, synthesizes the major findings from the reports and studies focusing on the cost effectiveness and cost benefits of substance abuse treatment identified in this bibliography.

Client Area: Federal Government
Expertise Area: Chronic Disease / Cost of Illness, Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Cost Effectiveness and Cost Benefit Analysis of Substance Abuse Treatment: A Literature Review

June 2002

This literature review summarizes the major findings from books, published articles, research and evaluation studies, and government documents (including "Web" publications) published since 1980, which focus on the cost effectiveness and cost benefits of substance abuse treatment. Cost effectiveness and cost benefit studies play an important role in evaluating existing and alternative substance abuse approaches and in assessing new treatment methods. Evaluating the outcomes and costs of treatment is necessary in order to determine how to more efficiently allocate scarce resources. This document is intended to assist policymakers, researchers/evaluators, and treatment providers interested in this field to identify and acquire evidence-based information specific to their interests. This review also explores trends and areas where there are gaps in the literature.

Client Area: Federal Government
Expertise Area: Chronic Disease / Cost of Illness, Mental Health and Substance Abuse

The Burden of Gastrointestinal Diseases

May 2001

This study, conducted by The Lewin Group for the American Gastroenterological Association, analyzed major national and local databases to assess prevalence and cost of 17 digestive conditions: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallbladder disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), peptic ulcers, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C**, chronic diarrhea, diverticular disease, diseases of pancreas, Barrett's esophagus, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, foodborne illness and non-foodborne gastroenteritis. An article based on the study was published in the May 2002 issue (Volume 122 No 5) of the journal Gastroenterology.

Client Area: Associations
Expertise Area: Chronic Disease / Cost of Illness

Costs of Obesity

December 2000

This study estimated the direct costs of obesity to healthcare and found that the cost of all treatments for obese adults (defined as having a body mass index greater than 30) would be $238 billion in 1999, which includes $102 billion for 15 diseases that the project team specifically identified as associated co-morbidities. The study also found that approximately 75% of the direct costs were attributed to five diseases: Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke, Hypertension, and Arthritis. The American Obesity Association sponsored the study, and the results were presented at the first annual Obesity Conference that took place in Washington, DC on September 15th, 1999. The study presentation was revised September 13, 2000 to include slides on the cost of obesity in children

Client Area: Associations
Expertise Area: Chronic Disease / Cost of Illness

The Economic Cost of Mental Illness, 1992

May 2000

The aim of this study is to identify and quantify the adverse impacts of mental illness and sum together the magnitude of these consequences using economic values—in dollars. This report estimates the direct economic impact of mental illness for 1992 and for 1995.

Client Area: Federal Government
Expertise Area: Chronic Disease / Cost of Illness, Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Economic Cost of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the United States, 1992

May 1998

The Lewin Group developed estimates of the costs of drug and alcohol abuse in 1992 for The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The study estimated the economic cost to society from alcohol and drug abuse at $246 billion in 1992. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost an estimated $148 billion, while drug abuse and dependence cost an estimated $98 billion.

Client Area: Federal Government
Expertise Area: Chronic Disease / Cost of Illness, Mental Health and Substance Abuse

The Cost of Covering Medical Nutrition Therapy under Medicare: 1998 through 2004

April 1997

Analysis of data from a Northwestern HMO shows that the use of dietition services under Medicare Part B as specified in the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 1995 can reduce inpatient and physician service use for patients with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. Utilization savings appeared within the first calendar quarter and increased over time. Authors found also that the program could produce net savings to Medicare over the period analyzed (1998 to 2000) if coverage is limited to those with diseases demonstrated to show savings.

Client Area: Associations
Expertise Area: Chronic Disease / Cost of Illness, Medicare