Operations
Finances
Support for the Cost of Services
New York State has supported the Poison Control Network first through reimbursement add-ons for poison center host institutions (usually a hospital) through the NYPHRM legislation. An emergency room rate add-on was determined based on the cost of poison center services as reported by the host institution in their annual Institutional Cost Report. When the NYPHRM legislation expired, the state continued support of poison center services in the Health Care Reform Acts (HCRA). In addition to continuing the add-ons for the Medicaid emergency room rates, HCRA authorized grants to the poison control centers to assist them with meeting operating costs that may not be funded by other payers subsequent to the expiration of NYPHRM which regulated rate setting for all payers. The grant funding compensates for each center's allocable share of projected revenue lost plus the poison control center's cost allocable to the Medicare program.
| Bellevue Hospital Center | Children's Hospital of Buffalo | Phelps Memorial Hospital Center | Strong Memorial Hospital | University Hospital/ SUNY Health Science Center | Winthrop University Hospital | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | $689,100 | $435,615 | $337,456 | $863,694 | $1,112,373 | $1,462,663 | $4,900,901 |
| Medicaid | $455,613 | $72,172 | $0 | $175,299 | $214,801 | $85,109 | $1,347,980 |
| Total | $1,144,713 | $507,172 | $337,456 | $1,038,993 | $1,327,174 | $1,547,772 | $5,248,881 |
| 2003 | $650,631 | $464,818 | $337,456 | $866,451 | $1,112,373 | $1,462,663 | $4,896,392 |
| Medicaid | $650,154 | $66,152 | $0 | $158,476 | $251,127 | $86,182 | $1,212,091 |
| Total | $1,300,785 | $530,970 | $337,456 | $1,024,927 | $1,363,500 | $1,548,845 | $6,106,483 |
| 2004 | $650,631 | $461,026 | $337,456 | $776,891 | $1,112,373 | $1,462,663 | $4,801,040 |
| Medicaid | $597,437 | $71,385 | $0 | $209,569 | $322,243 | $80,164 | $80,164 |
| Total | $1,248,068 | $532,411 | $1337,456 | $986,460 | $1,434,616 | $1,542,827 | $56,081,838 |
Cost Savings
Poison control centers have long proven their value in saving money by reducing the burden on 911 systems, emergency transport services and avoiding unnecessary visits to the emergency department.
The Network previously conducted a cost study survey with callers from the general public and health care professionals. When asked what they would do without the services of a poison control center, 40% of the general public stated they would go to a hospital, 44% to a physician's office, and the remaining 16% would call a friend, pharmacist or do nothing. These patients were insured 82% of the time by private insurance or HMOs, and 12% by public insurance programs. The patients who would do nothing if the poison control center did not exist represent a possible increase in morbidity and mortality among inadequately treated poisoning victims. It was also noted that 90% of patients already in the emergency department for treatment of a poisoning, did not consult the poison center before coming to the hospital. In 2002, the New York Centers (Network) handled 131,789 human exposure calls.
Approximately sixty -six percent (66.5%) or 88,291 were managed without health care facility, 911 or emergency services intervention. In 2003, the Network handled 130,703 human exposure calls.
Approximately sixty-nine percent (69%) or 90,091 were managed without health care facility, 911 or emergency services intervention. In 2004, the Network handled 126,368 human exposure calls. Approximately Sixty-eight percent (68%) or 85,453 were managed without health care facility, 911 or emergency services intervention.
Statistical Information
Statistical information is provided in graphic form in Appendix Two. The two major categories of calls are human exposure and information calls. Data for these two categories are broken down into more specific analysis.
Summary of 2002 Statistics
In 2002, the Network received a total of 189,005 calls for assistance. Sixty-nine percent (69% or 131,791) of these calls involved human poisoning, 5,541 calls involved animal poisonings, and 51,454 represented a wide range of information calls.
The remaining charts provide information specific to the calls received involving human exposure. Children five years of age or younger were involved in forty-seven (47%) of poisonings. Unintentional poisonings remained the predominant number of exposures at eighty-two percent (83% or 109,558). The majority of exposures (67%) were managed on-site, without need for additional health care intervention. Data collected for 2002 on the site-of-exposure indicates that eighty-nine percent (89% or 117,159) of the exposures occurred in the home.
Summary of 2003 Statistics
In 2003, the New York Centers (Network) handled 188,122 human exposure calls. Approximately Sixty-nine percent (70% or 130,703) of these calls involved human poisoning, 5506 involved animal poisonings, and 51,681 involved a wide rage of informational calls.
The remaining charts provide information specific to the calls received involving human exposure. Children five years of age or younger were involved in forty-seven percent (47% or 61,346) of poisonings. Unintentional poisonings remained the predominant number of exposures at eighty-two percent (82% or 107,224). The majority of exposures (69%) were managed on-site, without the need for additional health care intervention. Data collected for 2003 on site of exposure indicates that eighty-nine percent (89% or 116,663) of these exposures occurred in the home.
Summary of 2004 Statistics
In 2004, the New York Centers (Network) handled 177,705 human exposure calls. Approximately Seventy-one percent (71% or 126,368) of these calls involved human poisoning, 5717 involved animal poisonings, and 45,423 involved a wide rage of informational calls.
The remaining charts provide information specific to the calls received involving human exposure. Children five years of age or younger were involved in forty-six percent (46% or 57,884) of poisonings. Unintentional poisonings remained the predominant number of exposures at eighty-one percent (81% or 102,357). The majority of exposures (68%) were managed on-site, without the need for additional health care intervention.
Data collected for 2003 on site of exposure indicates that ninety percent (90% or 113,638) of these exposures occurred in the home.
An analysis of the most common substances involved in human exposures and in pediatric human exposures is contained in Appendix Three.
