Future of Brachytherapy Cancer Treatment Rests on Financial Benefits

The number of new diagnosed cancer cases increases globally every year, and the disease is set to become a global pandemic with death rates growing in low and middle-income countries. This is chiefly due to growing older populations in both developed and developing countries, however diet, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles also contribute. As a result of this huge patient population, doctors and patients are desperate for effective, economical and convenient radiation treatments.

Lifetime treatment costs for brachytherapy have been discovered to be almost USD 3,000 lower than costs for radical prostatectomy in the treatment of low-risk prostate cancer, making it a high-value alternative. US patient data from newly diagnosed with prostate cancer over five and half years revealed that brachytherapy was among the most cost-effective options, totaling a relatively low USD 35,143.

The need for fewer treatments serves patients best who do not have local access to radiation treatment, cutting out lengthy journeys to an oncology center, and representing significant cost savings for patients, as transportation costs constitute out-of-pocket expenses. Brachytherapy also saves money for healthcare systems, as lifetime treatment through brachytherapy costs considerably less than radical prostatectomy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Moreover, temporary brachytherapy is gaining recognition among both physicians and patients due to its ease of use as an outpatient procedure.Treatment is also shorter, and has a lower risk of serious adverse effects, making it overall more likely for patients to adapt to treatment schedules and refrain from wasting appointment times.

However, Medicare reimbursement cuts threaten the growth of the brachytherapy devices market in the United States, hypothetically removing brachytherapy from a large portion of the global cancer patient population. The 2012 final US Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) saw Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalize proposals reducing Medicare payment rates for physicians by 27.4 % for services in 2012. Earlier in 2010, the CMS under the MPFS-proposed rule implemented reimbursement cuts of 19% for radiation oncology. Based on these changes, it is estimated that radiation oncology, including brachytherapy, will experience an impact of negative 6% in 2012 and negative 10% in 2013.

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