PCN145 THE IMPACT OF INCREASING MT-SDNA USE AMONG COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENERS IN A US EMPLOYER POPULATION

Abstract

With a predominantly employer-based health insurance system in the United States, it is important for employers to consider the impact of appropriate utilization of options for colorectal cancer screening. Adherence to screening guidelines is associated with decreased colorectal cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality. Not only do employer-based payers incur direct medical costs, but also indirect medical costs, such as productivity loss. The aim of our analysis was to quantify the impact of increasing mt-sDNA use among CRC screeners from the US employer perspective. A budget impact model was developed to simulate increased use of mt-sDNA from 6% to 28% among mt-sDNA, FIT and colonoscopy screeners over the course of 10 years. Screening modality utilization was based on laboratory data and the employee population was assumed to be ages 50-64. Indirect medical costs were based on an assumed 16 hours of lost productivity due to bowel prep and colonoscopy procedures, as well as the average hourly wage per US employee from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Baseline direct medical costs were extracted from Medicare CPT codes, the literature, and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. All costs originated from or were adjusted to 2019 USD and Medicare costs were scaled to the Commercial population by applying a cost index. With a hypothetical employee population of 100K, it was projected that the incremental direct medical cost savings were $165K from CRC screening, surveillance colonoscopies, adverse events due to colonoscopies, and CRC treatment; and the indirect cost savings were $556K. Overall, the incremental direct medical and indirect costs yielded a cumulative savings of $721K and a per employee per month savings of $0.06. Increased utilization of mt-sDNA averts direct and indirect medical costs from a US employer perspective.