At the recent American Rhinologic Society, Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting (ARS-COSM) held in Boston, Massachusetts, May 3-5, 2023, a multi-center research team from The University of Chicago and Stanford University presented a study investigating the internal and external costs associated with COVID-19-related smell and taste loss in the healthcare system.
Acute loss of smell and taste are considered the primary symptoms linked to COVID-19 infection, with patients experiencing loss of pleasure in food and resulting worsened quality of life. Reports have suggested that more than 15% of cases involving initial loss have reported continued dysfunction, resulting in over 9 million individuals in the US alone being diagnosed with long COVID-related olfactory issues. The shortage of specialized true smell disorder centers and lack of standardized treatment protocols have elevated the frustration of patients towards the healthcare providers due to their inability to offer satisfactory solutions.
The present study aims to determine the cost associated with COVID-19-related smell and taste loss, both within the healthcare system and outside of it. The researchers examined the Colorado All-Payer Claims Database, which represents 65 % of insured lives in Colorado. The unique claims of COVID-19-induced smell/taste loss were categorized as acute or chronic. Furthermore, member liability and plan-covered amounts were recorded for further analysis. Besides, a poll was conducted in two Facebook groups dedicated to COVID-19-induced smell/taste loss. The poll asked the members to select an option corresponding to the amount spent outside the healthcare system (doctor’s office, hospital, prescription co-pays, etc.) to treat these symptoms.
The study findings suggest 4,077 unique claims were connected to COVID-19-induced acute smell/taste loss, totaling $2,389,836.31 spent by insurance and individuals (n=3086) within the Colorado healthcare system. Moreover, the average out-of-pocket cost was $47.16, while the insurance plans covered $727.27 per patient.
Additionally, 991 claims were connected to chronic COVID-19 smell/taste loss, paid ($462,333.59) by the insurance and individuals (n=617). Furthermore, the patients spent $106.47 out-of-pocket on average, with insurance covering $642.85 per patient. It was also observed that the patients paid 1.86 times more out-of-pocket for chronic smell/taste loss claims than acute smell/taste loss claims. Facebook poll results revealed that 19% of individuals spent $0-20, 11% spent $21-50, 16% spent $51-100, 15% spent $101-200, 28% spent $201-1000, and 10% spent more than $1001.
“COVID-19-induced smell/taste loss continues to burden patients financially both inside and outside of the healthcare system. To alleviate this burden, we must continue to research treatments, disseminate evidence-based algorithms, and educate patients about the treatment of smell/taste loss,” the authors wrote.
The study authors included Esther Wang, BS, from the Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, and Zara M. Patel, MD, from the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Reference:
Wang E, Patel Z.M. Financial Costs of COVID-19 Induced Smell and Taste Loss. ARS-COSM, May 4-5, 2023.