 |
 |
If anyone couldn't open this as an attachment - here it be! -----Original Message----- From: AOL News <[log in to unmask]> Date: Monday, April 20, 1998 1:45 PM Subject: New Financial Study of Parkinson's Disease Pegs Average... >New Financial Study of Parkinson's Disease Pegs Average Annual Cost at $24,000 > >CAUTION -- ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 6 P.M. EST, TODAY/ > >ADVANCE/ NEW YORK, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study of the financial costs >of Parkinson's disease estimates the total at $24,041 per patient in 1997. >The survey, which is based on already-available data drawn from a variety of >sources and takes account of the indirect economic costs of Parkinson's as >well as the direct costs of medical care, was conducted by John C. Robbins >Associates, a New York consulting firm, and commissioned by the Parkinson's >Disease Foundation, a not-for-profit fundraising and educational group. > >If, as is commonly estimated, the number of people with Parkinson's in the >United States is about one million, the per capita costs derived in this study >would suggest an aggregate annual cost of the disease -- to individuals, >government and society combined -- in the order of $24 billion. > >The study takes into account indirect costs -- for example, disability >payments by government and insurance plans and lost income due to forced early >retirement -- as well as the direct costs of medicines, surgery, doctor >visits, hospital and nursing home care and other medical expenses. These >indirect costs accounted for about two-thirds of the total: $15,169 per year, >compared with $8,872 for direct medical costs. > >Costs vary widely by age of patient, the study found. For patients under age >50, the estimated average annual cost in 1997 was $28,023. For those of ages >50 through 64 -- the range at which a Parkinson's diagnosis is most likely to >force an involuntary reduction of work or application for disability -- the >average rises to $40,677. For older patients, the average declines again, to >$16,401 for those aged 65-74 and $13,388 for those over 75. > >The report is being released today as part of the worldwide celebrations >marking World Parkinson's Day for 1998. To request a copy, contact Robin >Elliott. > >SOURCE Parkinson's Disease Foundation > >CO: Parkinson's Disease Foundation > >ST: New York > >IN: MTC FIN > >SU: > >04/20/98 13:41 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com > >To edit your profile, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles"> >NewsProfiles</A>. >For all of today's news, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:News">News</A>. >