A preliminary analysis of the costs for outpatient chemotherapy in the supplementary health system

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is considered a public health problem due to estimated growth in the number of new cases and the costs associated with their treatment. Objective: The main objective was to demonstrate a cost analysis of chemotherapy treatment in a private health system in Brazil. Methods: It was conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study, with qualitative and quantitative strategies, with the data of the analytical internal audit activity of medical bills in a supplementary health service. Results: In two years, there were 1,259 medical bills related to chemotherapy of 179 users. The tumors with more total cost were of the gastrointestinal origin (32%), breast (20.5%), lymphatic and hemopoietic (16.8%) and lung (10.4%). The average total cost of therapy with monoclonal antibody was more expensive than venous isolated chemotherapy per scheme (180%), per cycle (105%) per day (99%). Oral chemotherapy had an average cost per day 20% lower than the cost of the intravenous chemotherapy. The average total cost of the palliative regimens were more expensive than the curative regimens cost per scheme (102%) per cycle (92%) and per day (81%). The average total cost of second, third or fourth line therapy were more expensive than first-line therapy by scheme (59%) per cycle (48%) and daily (48%). Conclusion: The analysis of these cost indicators contributed to identify the procedures that require a detailed monitoring to ensure the best use of available resources in quality of health care.