Dr. Yezefski on Differences in CRC Care Costs Between the US and Canada

Video

In Partnership With:

Todd A. Yezefski, MD, senior fellow, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, discusses the differences between colorectal cancer care costs in the Unites States and Canada.

Todd A. Yezefski, MD, senior fellow, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, discusses the differences between colorectal cancer (CRC) care costs in the Unites States and Canada.

In an analysis of patients with metastatic CRC in western Washington and British Columbia, Canada, investigators aimed to compare chemotherapy use, cost, and survival between patients in geographically similar locations, but in 2 different health systems. The US has a multi-payer health system, while Canada has a single-payer health system. The systemic therapy use, cost, and survival for patients with metastatic CRC were gathered using cancer registry and claims data.

Yezefski says that even though outcomes, measured by overall survival, were similar in both locations, the cost of first-line chemotherapy in Washington was significantly higher than British Columbia. Per patient, per month, the cost for first-line chemotherapy in Washington was just over $12,000 dollars, while the cost was just over $6,000 dollars in British Columbia. Yezefski attributes this partly to the ability for the Canadian government to set the price of drugs.

Related Videos
Ricardo D. Parrondo, MD, hematologist/oncologist, Mayo Clinic
Ilyas Sahin, MD
Raj Singh, MD
Jaime R. Merchán, MD, professor, co-leader, Translational and Clinical Oncology Research Program, director, Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Saad J. Kenderian, MB, CHB
Tycel Phillips, MD
Minesh Mehta, MD
A panel of 6 experts on colorectal cancer
A panel of 6 experts on colorectal cancer
Shivaani Kummar, MBBS, FACP, Margaret and Lester DeArmond Endowed Chair of Cancer Research, Professor and Division Head, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine; co-director, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, co-deputy director, Knight Cancer Institute