The true cost of thyroid surgery determined by a micro-costing approach

Whether the amount of the current DRG tariff for thyroid surgery covers its actual cost has been questioned. We estimated a reliable cost of thyroid surgery for a large Italian hospital. A micro-costing approach is used with data from the University Hospital “Umberto I,” a large facility that conducts a high volume of thyroidectomy surgical procedures in the Lazio region. The direct costs of surgery and hospitalization for a total and a hemi-thyroidectomy were €4956 and €4673, respectively. When compared to the DRG tariff of €3340, total thyroidectomy was €1616 (48 %) more per procedure and hemi-thyroidectomy was €1333 (40 %) more per procedure. This DRG shortfall is calculated to generate an annual procedure-specific deficit of approximately €1.38 million for this hospital. Furthermore, when the costs associated with pre-surgical work-up, post-surgical follow-up, and complications management through 12 months are incorporated, the estimated costs of total and hemi-thyroidectomy rose to €5812 and €5277, respectively. The true cost of thyroid surgery in Italy is significantly higher than what has been reported in the literature or reimbursed by the DRG tariff.