LAUSR

Key Points Question What is the association between health care spending and survival in patients with chronic heart failure across US Veterans Affairs Medical Centers? Findings This cohort study of 265 714 patients found that mean annual expenditures varied from $21 300 to $52 800 per patient, and annual survival varied between 81.4% and 88.9%. There was a modest, statistically significant V-shaped association between spending and survival; however, the general association between spending and survival was weak. Meaning Several Veterans Affairs Medical Centers with high expenditures may be less economically efficient than their peer institutions in producing good health outcomes in their patients with chronic heart failure.