title: Cost analysis of a domiciliary program of supportive and palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies.
abstract: The costs of home care (HC) programs may be tailored to the specific needs of patients with hematological malignancies. The aim of this study was to analyze the use of resources and the costs of a program of HC for four different prognostic groups of patients subdivided according to disease status. Over 2 years, 144 patients with hematological malignancies were assisted at home. Patients were subdivided according to disease status and life expectancy in the following groups: (i) terminal phase, with a life expectancy of 3 months or less; (ii) advanced phase, with a life expectancy of 6 months or less; (iii) chronic phase, with a life expectancy of more than 6 months; (iv) discharged early from the hospital with curable disease, following anticancer chemotherapy. Median mean monthly costs (MMC) in Euro (x) have been compared with the costs of hospitalization (DRG). Among the 4 groups of patients, those discharged early and in terminal phase required the highest mean monthly number of home visits (27.2 and 24.1), transfusions (6.1 and 6.8) and days of care (22.8 and 19.7) respectively. MMC were affected by the following variables: disease status and transfusion requirements. MMC for terminal patients (4,232.50x) and those discharged early (3,986.40x) were higher than those for advanced (2,303.80x) and chronic patients (1,488,30x). The cost of HC was lower than the corresponding DRG charges, but exceeded the district fares for HC of cancer patients. In hematological patients, the costs of HC differ according to disease status and transfusion requirements. For some categories of patients, costs of HC are lower than those of hospitalization, although higher than the current national fares for HC programs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Policlinico Umberto I, University La Sapienza of Rome, Italy. cartoni@bce.uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cartoni
authors.forename: Gregorio Antonio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Gianna Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: D'Elia
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breccia
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niscola
authors.forename: Maria Giulia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nastri
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alimena
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mandelli
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foà
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005381:Financing, Organized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000191:economics; D014495:Universities