Which factors render cost-covering lump-sum charging difficult for the treatment of patients with acute leukemias?
GROUND: Growing budget limitations and the planned charging subject to Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) points raise the question as to what costs are incurred by the induction therapy and early consolidation treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemias (AML) and whether these can be compensated in a cost-covering manner by a system based on DRG points. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For 100 patients recruited within the framework of the “Kooperative AML-Studie 96” of the Süddeutsche Hämoblastosegruppe a process cost analysis was made between 1996 and 1999. All manpower and material costs incurred in the department itself and in the secondary services departments as well as the basic cost shares were recorded taking into due account the length of stay. The cost breakdown was effected based on a double induction therapy and one early consolidation treatment. RESULTS: It turns out that substantial differences exist between lower und upper limits of the length of stay and costs. For all three
