A cost containment program targeting home infusion drug therapy

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Health Economics
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Home infusion therapy is a growing sector requiring cost-effective management.
• Variations in pricing for home infusion services can lead to significant expenditures.
• Provider behavior significantly impacts healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary team's analysis on home infusion therapy costs.
• To determine if cost-effective behavioral changes in providers can be achieved.
• To assess the financial benefits of retrospective, concurrent, and prospective case reviews.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team (clinicians and financial analysts) reviewed home infusion therapy cases.
• Actual invoices and price quotes were compared against a "usual and customary" pricing database.
• Findings were presented to providers to negotiate price reductions.

Main Results:

• Achieved $3,265,248 in short-term cost reductions.
• Projected $15,146,789 in long-term cost reductions.
• Average cost reductions of $2,247 (short-term) and $10,424 (long-term) per analysis.

Conclusions:

• Multidisciplinary team analysis effectively reduces home infusion therapy costs.
• A comprehensive pricing database is crucial for achieving cost savings.
• This approach fosters cost-effective behavioral changes among healthcare providers.