title: Full costs of dispensing and administering fluorouracil chemotherapy for outpatients: A microcosting study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although full costs (including direct and indirect costs) that incurred during the process of chemotherapy administration should be measured, many studies estimate only direct labor and medication costs associated with various chemotherapy delivery systems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the total costs for dispensing and administration of fluorouracil when administered with leucovorin, by intravenous infusion or bolus, using a microcosting approach from the perspective of a provider or health system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A time-and-motion study was used to measure the time spent by (1) pharmacy staff in the handling, admixture, and dispensing of fluorouracil and (2) patients in the clinic. The study was performed at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey for an 8-month period. Costs of dispensing and administering fluorouracil were calculated per patient visit on the basis of resources used in the processing of fluorouracil and time spent by pharmacy staff and patient. All costs were standardized to 2005 dollars.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 275 observations were made, and 74 (26.9%) of these were associated with fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Pharmacy staff spent an average of 11 minutes for bolus fluorouracil with leucovorin infusion (fluorouracil/LCV-IV) and 8 minutes for bolus fluorouracil with bolus leucovorin (fluorouracil/LCV-B). Patients who received fluorouracil/LCV-IV spent an average of 203 minutes in the clinic, whereas patients who received fluorouracil/LCV-B spent 110 minutes. The average cost of administering fluorouracil/LCV-IV was $933, which comprised drug costs ($279), dispensing costs ($189), and administration costs ($465). The average cost of fluorouracil/LCV-B was $474, which comprised drug costs ($65), dispensing costs ($141), and administration costs ($268).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to formally demonstrate the high cost of administering the injectable form of fluorouracil chemotherapy with leucovorin, despite relatively low drug acquisition cost. Therefore, reimbursement rates for fluorouracil should be calculated in such a way that covers all costs, including overhead costs for the department.
authors.affiliation: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, USA. dsuh@rci.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Dong-Churl
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: HyunChul
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jinweon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goodin
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D016527:Drug Costs; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009515:New Jersey; D010045:Outpatients; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D013996:Time and Motion Studies
chemical_list: D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil
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