Costs and outcomes of a military bone marrow transplant program

There is a lack of published cost and outcome data concerning bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients treated in a military health care setting. The objectives of this prospective investigation were to collect demographic data concerning the characteristics of patients using the service, to track outcomes of length of stay, relapse, and mortality, and to analyze cost data based on a specific cost accounting system that was created to accurately capture individual versus aggregate costs. The sample consisted of 106 patients, 71 adults and 35 children. The mean cost of an adult autologous BMT was $45,600, the mean cost for a pediatric autologous BMT was $60,725, and the mean cost of a pediatric allogeneic BMT was $68,930. Previously, $100,000 to $500,000 per transplant was paid for military beneficiaries receiving BMTs in the civilian sector. Expenditures related to treating adult patients were reduced by $50,000 to $100,000 per patient. Savings associated with each pediatric transplant ranged from $100,000 to $200,000.