What are considered direct costs in healthcare economic evaluations?

• A. Lost productivity
• B. Transportation
• C. Treatment, medication, DME, and healthcare expenses
• D. Informal caregiver time

Answer: (C)

Direct costs in healthcare economic evaluations are the resources tied directly to delivering medical care. This includes the actual treatment, medications, durable medical equipment (DME), and other healthcare services used to diagnose, treat, or care for a patient. These costs appear on medical bills and payer invoices and are specific to the medical intervention itself.

In contrast, indirect costs come from consequences like lost productivity due to illness or time informal caregivers spend helping the patient. Transportation is typically categorized as a direct non-medical cost, not a direct medical cost. So the option listing treatment, medication, DME, and healthcare expenses best reflects direct medical costs.