Todd A. Yezefski, MD, senior fellow, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, discusses the differences between colorectal cancer (CRC) care costs in the Unites States and Canada.

In an analysis of patients with metastatic CRC in western Washington and British Columbia, Canada, investigators aimed to compare chemotherapy use, cost, and survival between patients in geographically similar locations, but in 2 different health systems. The US has a multi-payer health system, while Canada has a single-payer health system. The systemic therapy use, cost, and survival for patients with metastatic CRC were gathered using cancer registry and claims data.

Yezefski says that even though outcomes, measured by overall survival, were similar in both locations, the cost of first-line chemotherapy in Washington was significantly higher than British Columbia. Per patient, per month, the cost for first-line chemotherapy in Washington was just over $12,000 dollars, while the cost was just over $6,000 dollars in British Columbia. Yezefski attributes this partly to the ability for the Canadian government to set the price of drugs.

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Todd A. Yezefski, MD, senior fellow, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, discusses the differences between colorectal cancer care costs in the Unites States and Canada.

Dr. Yezefski on Differences in CRC Care Costs Between the US and Canada

Todd A. Yezefski, MD, senior fellow, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, compares the costs and outcomes of chemotherapy in the United States and Canada for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). His findings were presented at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Yezefski and co-investigators wanted to analyze the pros and cons of the US multi-payer health system versus Canada’s single-payer system. Using two geographically similar regions, western Washington state and British Columbia, results showed that the utilization and cost of systemic therapy for patients with mCRC in the United States was significantly higher.

The mean monthly cost for first-line treatment in Washington was $12,345 versus $6,195 for Canadian patients (

 < .01). A greater proportion of US patients received systemic therapy than Canadian patients at 79% versus 68%, respectively. The most common first-line regimen in Washington was FOLFOX and in British Columbia it was FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab (Avastin).

For comparison, Canadian costs were expressed in the US dollar using the Purchase Power Parity for Health.  

Todd A. Yezefski, MD, senior fellow, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, compares the costs and outcomes of chemotherapy in the United States and Canada for patients with colorectal cancer.

Todd A. Yezefski, MD

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Dr. Yezefski on Differences in CRC Care Costs Between the US and Canada

Dr. Yezefski Compares Costs and Outcomes of Chemotherapy in the US and Canada