Financial Impact of Abusive Head Trauma to Age 17
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Child Abuse Review
Abstract
In order to illustrate the medical and financial impact arising from the care of a
severely injured victim of abusive head trauma (AHT) from incident through to
adulthood, a complete review of all medical financial files for the injured child
beginning at the time custody of the child was transferred to the paternal
grandparents (2.5 months of age) through to age 17 was conducted. Cost data were
extracted from the insurance explanation of benefits or the family's bank statements.
Costs were divided into seven categories and adjusted for inflation using the gross
domestic product medical care deflator. Medical costs from 2.5 months to 18 years
of age totaled $261 499, with $106 607 of out-of-pocket expenditures by the child's
paternal grandparents and $154 892 covered by insurance. Costs were highly
variable from year to year as reflected in the standard deviation of annual costs of
$16 877. The cost of caring for a seriously injured victim of AHT is substantial. The
costs may be highly variable and unpredictable from year to year making it difficult
for families to plan financially. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
abusive head trauma, child abuse, shaken baby syndrome, cost, cost analysis, research
Citation
Steinbeigle, R., Barr, M., Barr, R. G., & Miller, T. R. (2020). Financial impact of abusive head trauma to age 17. Child abuse review, 29(3), 208-217.