DRGs Underpay for Stem Cell Therapy

Publication
Article
Oncology NEWS InternationalOncology NEWS International Vol 4 No 12
Volume 4
Issue 12

SAN ANTONIO--Although the literature suggests that peripheral blood stem cell support for hematologic salvage after high-dose chemotherapy is somewhat less expensive than autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT), the difference is nowhere near the $80,000 disparity found in diagnostic-related group (DRG)-based reimbursement, Philip Bierman, MD, said at a lymphoma symposium sponsored by the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

SAN ANTONIO--Although the literature suggests that peripheralblood stem cell support for hematologic salvage after high-dosechemotherapy is somewhat less expensive than autologous bone marrowtransplant (ABMT), the difference is nowhere near the $80,000disparity found in diagnostic-related group (DRG)-based reimbursement,Philip Bierman, MD, said at a lymphoma symposium sponsored bythe University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The DRG allowance for a stem cell transplant for non-Hodgkin'slymphoma patients is $9,880, compared with more than $89,000 forABMT, said Dr. Bierman, associate professor of medicine, Universityof Nebraska. But reports in the literature suggest a differenceof only a few thousand dollars, he said.

Since DRG-based reimbursement is used primarily by Medicare, Medicaid,and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, only a small percentage of transplantsare affected, he said, and he doesn't believe that physiciansor hospitals have allowed the payment difference to influenceclinical decision making. Furthermore, he said, the problem maybe resolved next year when the government reviews the issue.

Recent Videos
4 experts in this video
2 experts in this video
2 experts in this video
4 experts in this video
Ongoing studies seek to evaluate immunotherapy in earlier lines of therapy for patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma.
Strict inclusion criteria may disproportionately exclude racial minority populations from participating in breast cancer trials.
A paucity of prospective, well-vetted data to guide therapy in patients with rare lymphomas may result in a reliance on expert consensus guidelines.
Related Content