Table 1 Cost categories from sickness fund and societal perspectives
Cost type | Perspective | |
|---|---|---|
Sickness fund | Societal | |
Direct medical costs | ||
Inpatient treatment | ✓| ✓ | ✓| ✓a |
Outpatient treatment | ✓| ✓ | ✓| ✓a |
Care by non-physicians | ✓| ✓ | ✓| ✓ |
Pharmaceuticals | ✓| ✓ | ✓| ✓a |
Devices and medical appliances | ✓| ✓ | ✓| ✓ |
Rehabilitation | ✓| ✓ | ✓| ✓ |
Medical services (nursing care at home) | ✓| ✓ | ✓| ✓ |
Direct non-medical costs | ||
Administration | ✓| ✓ | ✓| ✓ |
Sick leave compensation | ✓| ✓ | ✗| ✗ |
Travel expenses | ✓| ✓ | ✓| Ⓧb |
Other non-medical services | ✓| ✓ | ✓| Ⓧb |
Informal care by family caregivers | ✗| ✗ | ✓| ✓ |
Patient time (loss of leisure time) | ✗| ✗ | ✓| ✗ |
Indirect costs | ||
Reduced productivity at work | ✗| ✗ | ✓| ✗ |
Lost production (absence, disability, premature death) | ✗| ✗ | ✓| ✓ |