COST PER RESPONDER OF BIOLOGIC DRUGS FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

• Published in: Value in health 2017-05, Vol.20 (5), p.A106
• Main Authors: Alexandre, RF, Santana, CF, Squiassi, HB, Riveros, BS, Nita, ME, Pedro, GO, Freitas, MG
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological products; Campaigns; Epidemiology; Health care expenditures; Health insurance; Immunization; Immunoassay; Immunological memory; Indirect costs; Investments; Mortality; Patients; Pneumonia; Rheumatoid arthritis; Vaccination; Vaccine efficacy; Vaccines
• ISSN: 1098-3015; 1524-4733
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2017.05.005

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the estimated time to achieve breakeven point in a pneumonia vaccination campaign using 13-valent conjugate vaccine in a Brazilian Private Healthcare System (BPHS). METHODS: A model developed to measure the time to achieve the breakeven point in a vaccination campaign. For this analysis where taken in consideration pneumococcal diseases epidemiologic data (DATA-SUS); mortality rates, demographic data (IBGE) and vaccine effectiveness, in a cohort of 2 million lives (based on average of top 10 largest Brazilian Private Health Plans). Were considered direct costs regarding patient treatment and indirect costs such as loss working day. For comparison were produced two scenarios: Scenario 1 the campaign was financed in 50% by the healthcare plan and scenario 2, where the cost is 100% with no cost for the patient. RESULTS: Applying the demographic rate of age groups were obtained the target population to be vaccinated (N=455,600). The total investment cost of the vaccination campaign for scenario 1 was BRL 30.2 million, and approximately BRL 60.5 million in scenario 2. The total cost of the pneumococcal diseases events were BLR 179.9 million direct expenses; including indirect costs were BLR 255.7 million. The breakeven point of investment in scenario 1 was under 2 years considering only direct costs and approximately 1 year, when including indirect costs. For scenario 2 the point was reached in approximately 3.5 years considering only the direct costs and approximately 2.5 years when including the indirect costs. CONCLUSIONS: The vaccination campaign using the 13-valent conjugate vaccine may represent an alternative medium-term investment improving overall health of the policyholder's portfolio, reducing the number of claims. Vaccine properties of immunological memory guarantee that a greater investment is needed only once, at the outset, requiring a lower maintenance cost for new entrants.