Implementing home telehealth monitoring in patients with a chronic disease: a budget impact analysis

Healthcare decision makers are becoming more interested in the potential benefit of telehealth for remotely monitoring patients with a chronic disease. Results from recent studies, such as the Whole System Demonstrator in the UK, have shown reductions in medical resource use arising from the implementation of telehealth systems. However, few studies have estimated the associated budgetary impact – information required by payers to support informed decisions regarding the adoption of these services. Aims: The model estimates the short-term budget implications of introducing the Intel-GE Care InnovationsTM Guide, under a service contract, for patients with a chronic disease from the perspective of the UK NHS. Methods: A 3-year budget impact model has been constructed to estimate the impact of using the telehealth system for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or stroke. The model allows payers to estimate the predicted return on investment from the introduction of telehealth in their local area. Medical resource use calculated in the model included GP visits and nurse visits at home or in surgery, residential care-home admissions, unplanned hospitalisations, AE the main driver of the cost saving was a reduction in unplanned hospital admissions.