RECENT STUDIES

Healthcare Utilization and Costs for Women with a History of Intimate Partner Violence.

Results from a longitudinal cohort study of over 3000 female patients enrolled at a health maintenance organization determined that women with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) had significantly higher healthcare utilization and costs that continued long after the abuse had ended (Rivara et al, 2007). The lifetime prevalence of IPV was 44%. Healthcare utilization was higher for all categories of services during IPV compared to women with of history of IPV. Adjusted annual total healthcare costs were 19% higher in women without IPV (amounting to $439 annually). While healthcare utilization decreased over time after the IPV ceased, healthcare utilization was still 20% higher 5 years after women’s abuse had ended compared to nonabused women. The excess costs due to IPV were estimated to be $19.3 million per year for every 100,000 female enrollees aged 18-64 based on the lifetime prevalence of 44%. The authors concluded that IPV has a major impact on medical care resource utilization and that prevention efforts are clearly indicated. This study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2007;32(2):89-96).

Long-Term Costs of Intimate Partner Violence in a Sample of Female HMO Enrollees

A cost comparison study of female health maintenance enrollees who were abused by an intimate partner compared to women with no history of abuse demonstrated significantly higher health care costs among IPV survivors (Snow Jones et al, 2006). Average health care costs for women who disclosed a history of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abused were $1700 higher than never abused women over the 3-year study period. Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as previous abuse, were associated with elevated health care costs. The authors recommended early detection and prevention of IPV as a key strategy to control health care costs. This study was published in Women’s Health Issues (2006;16:252-261).

RESOURCES

The Business Case for Domestic Violence Programs in Health Care Settings

The Business Case for Domestic Violence Programs in Health Care Settings includes:

• A PowerPoint presentation: targeted at health care decision-makers and administrators that makes the case for domestic violence intervention programs. This presentation provides information about the health impact of abuse and the related health care costs, and makes a persuasive argument about the potential to cut these costs with domestic violence intervention programs.
• Return on Investment Tool: An Excel-based Return on Investment Tool helps analyze the cost and potential benefits of implementing a comprehensive domestic violence response program within health settings. The program promotes quality of care by using evidence to support key changes in infrastructure to care for victims of violence and promotes future outcomes research by offering a model to track and assess clinical improvement goals based on improved patient health and safety.
  Developed by The Family Violence Prevention Fund and Physicians for A Violence Free Society, in collaboration with an expert advisory committee of health care providers, managed care leaders, purchasers, clinicians, researchers and domestic violence advocates, these materials are an invaluable tool for anyone working in a health care setting.

To download a copy of these materials go to our website, or you can contact the FVPF to order a hard copy of the tool (1-888-RXABUSE).

Making the Case for Domestic Violence Prevention Through the Lens of Cost-Benefit Analysis

More than ever, domestic violence prevention programs are being asked:

• Is this program a good investment of public and private funds?
• Can this program describe how the money is spent and how the funds have led to specific results?
• Can this program’s costs be justified?

Making the Case for Domestic Violence Prevention Through the Lens of Cost-Benefit can help you answer these questions for your organization, funders, and policy makers. Making the Case provides a step-by-step approach to understanding how cost-benefit thinking can be applied to domestic violence prevention.  No special knowledge of mathematics, economics, or evaluation is necessary.  Each chapter offers an overview, definition and discussion of relevant terms, statistics and examples, and user-friendly worksheets.  Readers are guided through a clear process to create a case statement for their own prevention programs using a cost-benefit lens. By using this manual, you and your staff will:

• Deepen your understanding of the social and economic benefits of domestic violence prevention programs, with a focus on primary prevention;
• Learn about the social and economic costs of domestic violence;
• Increase your understanding of cost-benefit terms and approaches;
• Learn ways to describe your prevention program and its impact using a cost-benefit lens; and
• Gain tools to strengthen and justify your prevention program in order to obtain funding and support.

The ultimate goal is that by using these cost-benefit tools, we will be more powerful and persuasive in our efforts to influence funders and policy makers.  By making the case that our prevention programs are cost-effective, we will all help to create an ongoing funding stream for our prevention work.

This manual is available free of charge at this location.