Table 2.

Unit costs and assumptions for cost analysis.

Parameter	Unit cost ($)	Unit	Assumption/estimations	Data source
Hospitalisations
Public hospital	1627.12	Per day	$\frac{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{W}\mathrm{S}\ast }{\mathrm{A}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{S}\ast \ast }$	Australian hospital statistics 2011-12 [20] Independent Hospital Pricing Authority [21]
Private hospital	1334.24	Per day	$\frac{\mathrm{N}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{W}\mathrm{S}}{\mathrm{A}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{S}}\times 0.82$   Private hospital costs are weighted at 82% of public hospital costs to account for doctors charges which are included in Medicare data for private patients	Australian hospital statistics 2011-12 [20] Independent Hospital Pricing Authority [21]
Hospital transport
Ambulance (road)	688.50	Per transport	Same average cost for both metropolitan and rural/remote region	Watts et al. (2013) [22]
Ambulance (air)	2682.30	Per transport	—	Victoria state government- Health [23]
Private car	0.66	Per kilometre	Average of 30 km for full journey and same average cost for all types of motor vehicles	Australian government taxation office- car expenses [24]
Taxi	5.54	Per kilometre	Average of 30 km for full journey	Taxi service commission [25]
Allied health services
Physiotherapy	62.25	Per visit	85% covered by Medicare Out-of-pocket cost is $9.30	MBS item 10960 [26]
Podiatry	62.25	Per visit	85% covered by Medicare Out-of-pocket cost is $9.30	MBS item 10962 [26]
Occupational therapy	62.25	Per visit	85% covered by Medicare Out-of-pocket cost is $9.30	MBS item 10958 [26]
Speech therapy	62.25	Per visit	85% covered by Medicare Out-of-pocket cost is $9.30	MBS item 10970 [26]
Psychology	62.25	Per visit	85% covered by Medicare Out-of-pocket cost is $9.30	MBS item 10968 [26]
Dietetics	62.25	Per visit	85% covered by Medicare Out-of-pocket cost is $9.30	MBS item 10954 [26]
Chiropractic	62.25	Per visit	85% covered by Medicare Out-of-pocket cost is $9.30	MBS item 10964 [26]
Optometry	66.80	Per visit	For initial consultation	MBS item 10905 [26]
Remedial massage	55.92	Per visit	For initial consultation Total out-of-pocket cost	Worksafe Victoria item M600 [27]
Naturopathy	31.80	Per visit	Standard consultation Total out-of-pocket cost	Worksafe Victoria item N602 [28]
Other medical services
Dental	53.55	Per visit	For a comprehensive oral examination Total out-of-pocket cost	Australian Government Department of Veterans Affairs-item D011 [29]
Home based care and community services
Formal care, nurse	27.00	Per hour	Duration of formal nursing visit is equal to one hour	Watts et al. (2013) [22]
Formal care, PCA	25.00	Per hour	Duration of formal nursing visit is equal to one hour	Watts et al. (2013) [22]
Informal care	25.00	Per hour	—	Watts et al. (2013) [22]
Meals on wheels	16.50	Per day	Cost of meals per day is $16 for 2 meals and $16.50 for 3 meals	Watts et al. (2013) [22]

 ^∗NACWS = national average cost per weighted separation [20]

 ^∗∗ALOS = average length of stay [21].