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Table 1 Cost of the Mailed Educational Reminder (Intervention)

From: Cost-effectiveness of a mailed educational reminder to increase colorectal cancer screening

Item Costs

Provider

Patients

Time

(h)

Cost/h

Total $ Cost

Sensitivity

Analysis

(± 10%)

Sensitivity

Analysis

(± 25%)

Startup Costs

   Creating the letter content

Physician*

 

0.25

$72.12

$18

$64.80-79.20

$13.50-22.50

   Management Costs (editing & approving the reminder)

Chief GI Physician**

 

0.25

$96.12

$24

$21.60-26.40

$18.00-30.00

Total Startup Costs

    

$42

$37.80-46.20

$31.50-52.50

Maintenance Costs

   Generating, personalizing & mailing the reminder Overhead (69% of personnel costs

Assistant***

387

0.05

$19.23

$372

$334.80-409.20

$279.00-465.00

   personnel costs

 

387

  

$286

$257.40-314.60

$214.50-357.50

   Envelopes ($0.10)

 

387

  

$39

$35.10-42.90

$29.25-48.75

   Reminder ($0.10)

 

387

  

$39

$35.10-42.90

$29.25-48.75

   Postage ($0.42)

 

387

  

$163

$146.70-179.30

$122.25-203.75

   Printer ink ($0.05)

 

387

  

$19

$17.10-20.90

$14.25-23.75

   Pens

    

$2

"tabcaption".80-2.20

"tabcaption".50-2.50

Total Maintenance Costs

    

$920

$828.00-1012.00

$690.00-1150.00

Total Cost

    

$962

$865.80-1058.20

$721.50-1202.50

Total Cost/Patient

    

$2.49

$2.24-2.74

"tabcaption".87-3.11

  1. * Based on physician salary for a primary care physician at the VA: $150,000
  2. ** Based on VA gastroenterology physician salary: $200,000
  3. *** Based on administrative assistant salary at the VA: $40,000