Gestational diabetes mellitus care re-imagined - A cost-minimisation analysis: Cost savings from a tertiary hospital, using a novel, digital-based gestational diabetes management model

Background: Diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a pregnancy has a significant impact on health service resources and represents a substantial financial and time impost on women.

Aim: To describe a cost-minimisation analysis conducted following the demonstration of clinically equivalent care of women using a novel, digital model for GDM management, compared with conventional care.

Materials and methods: A pre-implementation model of care was compared with the post-implementation model of care which included systematic development and delivery of education videos, use of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 'M♡THer' smart phone app/portal and a dramatically reduced schedule of visits. The Mater Mothers' Hospital Brisbane cares for approximately 1200 women with GDM per annum, on which the cost estimates were based. Service costs were estimated using the resource method, where resource volumes and costs were gathered from experts within the health service. Patient costs were estimated using results from a short survey completed by a cohort of the study population.

Results: Health service costs showed a modest saving of AU$17 441.78 (US$12 158.92) in the intervention group over a 12-month period. Cost savings for the woman were estimated at $566.56 (US$394.96) per patient after accounting for lost wages, childcare expenses, and travel expenses avoided. This reduction led to an overall saving of $679 872 (US$473 948.82) for the cohort of 1200 women, primarily due to the reduction in face-to-face visits.

Conclusion: Re-imagining GDM patient care by introducing a novel, digital-based GDM model of care has substantial positive cost implications for patients.