An economic model to reduce the cost of chemotherapy for gynecologic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapy with innovative state-of-the-art medicine at university level can be very costly. Reimbursement until 2002 was at a flat rate, often not even covering the costs of the pharmaceutical substances. To avoid debt a more cost-effective chemotherapy management system had to be found. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From this background, an economic model with four steps was developed: 1. Analysis of current financial situation; 2. Precalculation of chemotherapy costs; 3. Assignment to an individual cost-covering reimbursement pathway; and 4. Postcalculation for cost efficiency and elimination of potential mistakes. RESULTS: After successful implementation of this model we were able to reach cost effectiveness for our chemo unit within 12 months and pay back previous debts and were even able to employ new medical staff. CONCLUSION: With this model we are now able to perform chemotherapy cost effectively at a university level without reducing standard of care.

Physician-based active cost management of oncological therapies reducing pharmaceutical costs by 83.4% in two years without leaving standard of care.

We report about the 2-year results of a physician-based active cost management model for oncological therapies in a German OB/GYN university clinic. Over 2 years more than 4,000 oncological cycles were prospectively and individually analyzed regarding costs and reimbursement mode. Main aim was reducing costs without lowering cycle number and standard of care. Within two years pharmaceutical costs were reduced by 83.4% or 785,976-EUR. All causes for a previous financial loss were identified and eliminated. Debts were paid back and employment of new staff and investments were possible. With this first active cost management model by and for physicians, oncological therapies can be performed cost covering even in a university clinic. Although developed for optimization of cost coverage of oncological therapies in Germany, this model is universally transferable.