For many cancer survivors, the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment include both physical and mental effects, such as persisting fatigue, decreased muscle strength, reduced lean body mass, reduced cardiorespiratory fitness, impact on mood, pain, urinary and gastrointestinal problems, and lymphoedema (Stricker and Jacobs, 2008). To assist with unmet survivorship needs, a 12-week, virtual care enabled multidisciplinary survivorship program was developed. The program is delivered by Australian based Oncology nurses, Exercise Physiologists, Psychologists and Dietitians.
Valion Health commissioned an Australian consulting firm to undertake a cost-effectiveness analysis of this program. A two arm cost effectiveness model was developed based on the work of Hillman et al (2018). The objective was to design a clinically and economically appropriate model that could estimate the benefits that would typically be paid by the largest five private health insurance firms (Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB and HBF) to members who are cancer survivors, but receive no intervention, of the likes of the Cancer Support Program. Then compare these costs and utilisation rates to those of past Cancer Support Program participants who were surveyed directly.
106 study participants were recruited from the records of people who had completed the 12-week program at least 12 months previously. A telephone survey of their healthcare use and costs over the preceding twelve months. The comparator was the number of health services episodes across three twelve- month periods, under standard care, where no intervention is provided.
Based on two analyses conducted using data generated from this study, it is suggested that the Cancer Support Program results in fewer future admissions, reduced length of stay and fewer allied health professional consultations over the immediate and longterm.