Cost of Living for Infants Weighing 1,000 Grams or Less at Birth

This article reports the in-hospital cost of caring for 75 infants weighing 1, 000 gm or less at birth who were born during the 2½-year period between January 1973 and June 1975. Thirty infants (40%) survived. Nineteen of 27 infants tested (70%) appear to be neurologically and developmentally "normal" at 1 to 3 years of age. Hospital charges were adjusted to September 1976 rates and corrected for a 94% collection rate. Physicians' fees represented less than 5% of the total bill and were not included. The average adjusted daily and total costs for the 45 infants who died were 825 and 14, 236, respectively. The average adjusted daily and total costs for the 30 survivors were 450 and 40, 287, respectively. The average adjusted total cost per "normal" survivor was 88, 058. It is our belief that the outcome justifies this expense. Society, however, must be the ultimate judge.