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Microcost techniques help estimate specialized services cost for patients at high risk for melanoma

Use of microcosting techniques helped determine an accurate cost estimate for the provision of specialized surveillance and treatment of patients at high risk for melanoma, according to study findings.

Researchers used a bottom-up microcosting method to measure resource use among 102 patients treated at a high-risk hospital-based clinic in Australia during a 12-month period.

The researchers reviewed medical records, calculated health system costs, societal costs, out-of-pocket costs for medical treatment and opportunity costs to determine the full scope of economic burden on patients, society and the health system.

Results showed the mean number of clinic visits per year was 2.7 for surveillance and 3.8 for patients who needed surgical excisions. Mean annual costs per patient to the health care system was $882, and the cost discounted across 20 years was $11,546, according to the researchers.

Additionally, the mean annual societal cost per patient was $972, and the cost discounted across 20 years was $12,721.

Operational expenses were driven primarily by labor in the high-risk clinic, accounting for 50% of overall health system costs, whereas surveillance and procedures accounted for 46%.

According to the researchers, patients who required more extensive treatment, in turn, had a greater impact on the overall cost of the program; however, surveillance programs have shown success in helping detect melanoma at earlier stages in high-risk patients compared with those not in a surveillance program. As such, cost of treatment for these patients is likely lower than that seen with patients treated with standard care, the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: Cust receives fellowships from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Cancer Institute NSW. Morton was funded by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Sydney Sax-Oversease Public Health Fellowship.