Silver Book Fact
Savings associated with t-PA treatment for ischemic stroke patients
A $600 net savings is associated with each ischemic stroke patient treated with t-PA. In 2005, only 2% of all ischemic stroke patients received t-PA. If that percentage was increased to 4% the realized cost savings would be approximately $15 million. If increased to 20%, the savings would be around $74 million.
Demaerschalk B, Yip T. Economic Benefit of Increasing Utilization of Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the United States. Stroke. 2005; 36(11): 2500-3. http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/36/11/2500