IngentaConnect >Cost Impact of Using Olanzapine at a Veterans Affairs Medical Ce...

Abstract:

The atypical antipsychotic agent olanzapine became available for use at the Denver VA Medical Center late in 1996. Acquisition costs are significant and warrant economic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of olanzapine therapy on costs of care for patients at this medical center.

METHODS: A total of 59 patients receiving olanzapine were identified from pharmacy databases. Of these patients, 25 received the drug for at least 6 months. Data were compiled for psychiatry-related prescriptions, clinic visits, and inpatient stays. All cost comparisons reported are for the 6-month time periods before and after initiation of olanzapine therapy. Costs for prescriptions reflect drug acquisition costs. Costs for clinic visits and inpatient stays were calculated using average unit costs. A paired t-test was used to compare means.

RESULTS: The following per-patient results were obtained: mental health clinic visits decreased by 32.3 (sd ± 44.4, p=0.001), hospital admissions fell by 0.6 (sd ± 0.9, p=0.003), and average length of stay decreased by 19.5 days (sd ± 34.5, p=0.009). The average number of active prescriptions per patient increased from 3.4 to 3.5, while the average cost per patient of those prescriptions increased from $586 to $2,230. Total cost changed as follows: pharmacy costs increased from $14,700 to $55,800, costs for clinic visits and hospitalizations fell from $131,100 to $93,100 and from $301,100 to $90,700, respectively. Overall cost per patient decreased from $17,900 to $9,600.

CONCLUSIONS: While an increase in pharmacy costs after initiation of olanzapine therapy was seen, overall costs of psychiatry-related care decreased in this patient population.

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>Cost Impact of Using Olanzapine at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center