A comparison of skin cancer screening and treatment costs at a Massachusetts cancer center, 2008 versus 2013.

BACKGROUND: Temporal analyses of skin cancer costs are needed to examine how expenditure differences between diagnoses are changing.

OBJECTIVE: To tabulate the costs of skin cancer-related care (SCRC), including both screening and treatment, at an academic cancer center at 2 time points.

METHODS: Cost data (insurance and patient payments) at an academic cancer center from 2008 and 2013 were queried for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes pertaining to skin cancer. Screening costs were separated from treatment costs through associated Current Procedural Terminology codes.

RESULTS: The total annual cost of SCRC increased by 64%, the number of patients receiving SCRC increased by 45%, and the mean cost per patient treated increased by 13%. Screening accounted for 17% and 16% of total annual costs in 2008 and 2013, respectively. The mean cost per patient with melanoma increased by 84%, which was the largest increase among skin cancer diagnoses. In 2013, the few patients with melanoma who were treated with ipilimumab (n = 48 [4% of patients with melanoma]) accounted for 42% of melanoma treatment costs and 20% of SCRC costs.

LIMITATIONS: Prescription costs were unavailable.

CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma costs have increased as a result of the introduction of ipilimumab. Ongoing studies are needed to monitor the cost-effectiveness of SCRC at a national level.