title: Cost of patient follow-up after potentially curative colorectal cancer treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the cost of follow-up among colorectal cancer patients treated with curative intent based on the broad spectrum of surveillance strategies suggested in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Economic analysis of the costs associated with 11 separate surveillance strategies. Charge data were obtained from the Part B Medicare Annual Data file and the Hospital Outpatient Bill file.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ambulatory care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medicare-allowed charges and an actual-charge proxy for 5 years of follow-up after treatment for colorectal cancer patients on a nationwide basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medicare-allowed charges varied widely for the 5 years of posttreatment follow-up from a low of $561 to a high of $16,492. When Medicare-allowed charges were converted to a proxy for actual charges using a conversion ratio of 1.62, the range was $910 to $26,717, a 28-fold difference in charges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Charges vary extensively across follow-up strategies, with no indication that higher-cost strategies increase survival or quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, MO 63110-0250, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Virgo
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vernava
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: McKirgan
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics*; D005251:Fees, Medical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics*; D012008:Recurrence; D014481:United States