The cost of radiotherapy in a decade of technology evolution

Abstract Purpose To quantify changes in radiotherapy costs occurring in a decade of medical–technological evolution. Materials and methods The activity-based costing (ABC) model of the University Hospitals Leuven (UHL) radiotherapy (RT) department was adapted to current RT standards. It allocated ac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiotherapy and oncology 2012-01, Vol.102 (1), p.148-153
Main Authors: Van de Werf, Evelyn, Verstraete, Jan, Lievens, Yolande
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accounting - methods
Activity-based costing
Algorithms
Benchmarking
Cost Allocation - methods
Cost calculation
Costs and Cost Analysis
Diffusion of Innovation
Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine
Humans
Intensity modulated radiation therapy
Models, Economic
Quality assurance
Radiation Oncology - economics
Radiation Oncology - trends
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy - economics
Radiotherapy - trends
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Summary:Abstract Purpose To quantify changes in radiotherapy costs occurring in a decade of medical–technological evolution. Materials and methods The activity-based costing (ABC) model of the University Hospitals Leuven (UHL) radiotherapy (RT) department was adapted to current RT standards. It allocated actual resource costs to the treatments based on the departmental work-flow and patient mix in 2009. A benchmark with the former model analyzed the cost increases related to changes in RT infrastructure and practice over 10 years. Results A considerable increase in total RT costs was observed, resulting from higher capital investments (96%) and personnel cost (103%), the latter dominating the total picture. Treatment delivery remains the most costly activity, boosted by the cost of improved quality assurance (QA), 23% of total product costs, coming along with more advanced RT techniques. Hence, cost increases at the product level are most obvious for complex treatments, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), representing cost increases ranging between 38% and 88% compared to conformal approaches. Conclusions The ABC model provides insight into the financial consequences of evolving technology and practice. Such data are a mandatory first step in our strive to prove RT cost-effectiveness and thus support optimal reimbursement and provision of radiotherapy departments.
ISSN:0167-8140
1879-0887
DOI:10.1016/j.radonc.2011.07.033