Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program Evaluated
J Oncol Pract; ePub 2017 Apr 18; Isenberg, et al
Use of a palliative care unit (PCU) resulted in cost savings compared with usual care in a study involving 153 cancer patient encounters (PEs).
Investigators estimated the number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) that a PCU could generate. They assessed the maximum costs at which the PCU would be considered cost effective, using willingness to pay threshold of $180,000/QALY. They looked at variable costs alone, contribution margin, and PCU cost savings vs usual care. Among the results:
- Variable costs were ~$1 million, or ~$1,300/PE/day.
- Contribution margin was ~$318,000, or ~$400/PE/day.
- Savings vs usual care was nearly $354,000, or ~$450 savings/PE/day.
- Based on published literature, the program could generate 3.11 QALYs from PEs and caregivers.
- The maximum variable cost needed to be cost effective was nearly $560,000, meaning an additional $716/PE/day could be spent.
Isenberg S, Lu C, McQuade J, et al. Economic evaluation of a hospital-based palliative care program. [Published online ahead of print April 18, 2017]. J Oncol Pract. doi:10.1200/JOP.2016.018036.