Resource use and cost of diagnostic workup of women with suspected breast cancer.
We estimated resource use and costs associated with a diagnostic workup for suspected breast cancer among Medicare beneficiaries. Using Medicare claims data, we found that the average cost of a diagnostic workup for suspected breast cancer--whether it eventuated in a breast cancer diagnosis or not--was $361, and did not vary by presentation (signs/symptoms or screening mammography). In the aggregate, we estimate that Medicare spends approximately $679 million annually on diagnostic workups for women with suspected breast cancer, and that false positive mammograms result in diagnostic costs of approximately $250 million.
Lee
David W
DW
GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188, USA. david.w.lee@ge.com
Stang
Paul E
PE
Goldberg
George A
GA
Haberman
Merle
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000191:economics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics; D006278:Medicare; D014481:United States