Abstract
This study presents a retrospective assessment of a psychological intervention examined for its potential cost-effectiveness if implemented into standard care. It discusses (1) the cost of instituting a psychological intervention for distressed melanoma patients, (2) the effectiveness of that intervention for reducing distress when compared with a standard care group, and (3) the costs of providing the treatment as compared to costs of physician time to answer distress-driven questions as part of standard care. Although the per-minute cost of providing the psychological intervention was marginally greater than standard care, providing the intervention was significantly cheaper in terms of distress reduction. Inclusion of 60% payer reimbursement rates for the intervention further suggested that incorporating a psychological intervention into standard medical care for melanoma patients would potentially generate revenue.
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Bares, C.B., Trask, P.C. & Schwartz, S.M. An Exercise in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Treating Emotional Distress in Melanoma Patients. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings 9, 193–200 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016095126552
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016095126552