PoPCRN : Research Abstracts : Pharmaceutical Cost Study

Web-based Research: Pharmaceutical Cost Study, 5/02-9/02, Study 12

Conducted between May 1, 2002 ? September 30, 2002, a web-based study was designed by PoPCRN, in collaboration with The Hospices of the National Capital Region, to identify current trends in hospice pharmacy costs. Thirty-four PoPCRN hospices from 17 States participated in this study. Key findings include:

Average daily census for routine care = 192 patients (range = 10-680).

Average daily census for General Inpatient Care = 23 patients (range = 1-304).

Mean FTE: physician = 1.6; nurse = 37.3; pharmacist = 0.8.

Mean current satisfaction with current pharmacy = 7.4 (1 = terrible, 10 = couldn?t be happier).

Mean drug cost (per patient / per day) by patient care location:

• Hospice inpatient care = $22.46
• Home care = $11.26
• Long term care = $9.95

Mean drug cost (per patient / per day) by care level:

• Routine care = $11.04
• General inpatient care = $16.96

Sixty-seven percent of responding hospices report increasing drug costs since 1998.

Top 5 factors most significantly contributing to inpatient care settings pharmaceutical costs:

• 1. Continuous infusion plus bolus drug delivery systems (73%)
• 2. Opioids ? long acting (e.g., Oxycontin, transdermal opioids) (67%)
• 3. Parenteral medications (53%)
• 4. Antibiotics (27%)
• 5. Cell line stimulants (e.g., epoetin or Procrit, G-CSF or filgrastim or Neupogen) (20%)

Top 5 factors most significantly contributing to routine care settings pharmaceutical costs:

• 1. Opioids ? long acting (e.g., Oxycontin, transdermal opioids) (78%)
• 2. Continuous infusion plus bolus drug delivery systems (44%)
• 3. Cell line stimulants (e.g., epoetin or Procrit, G-CSF or filgrastim or Neupogen) (34%)
• 4. Bisphosphonate (e.g., paridronate or Aredia) (28%)
• 5. Antibiotics (22%)

A 10-page summary of aggregate results is available on our webpage or by emailing Cordt Kassner (Cordt.Kassner@uchsc.edu).

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