A time-driven activity-based costing approach of magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound for cancer-induced bone pain

To determine resource consumption and total costs for providing magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) treatment to a patient with cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP). We conducted a time-driven activity-based costing (TD-ABC) of MR-HIFU treatments for CIBP from a hospital perspective. A European care-pathway (including a macro-, meso-, and micro-level) was designed to incorporate the care-delivery value chain. Time estimates were obtained from medical records and from prospective direct observations. To calculate the capacity cost rate, data from the controlling department of a German university hospital were allocated to the modules of the care pathway. Best- and worst-case scenarios were calculated by applying lower and upper bounds of time measurements. The macro-level care pathway consisted of eight modules (i.e., outpatient consultations, pretreatment imaging, preparation, optimization, sonication, post-treatment, recovery, and anesthesia). The total cost of an MR-HIFU treatment amounted to €5147 per patient. Best- and worst-case scenarios yielded a total cost of €4092 and to €5876. According to cost categories, costs due to equipment accounted for 41% of total costs, followed by costs with personnel (32%), overhead (16%) and materials (11%). MR-HIFU is an emerging noninvasive treatment for alleviating CIBP, with increasing evidence on treatment efficacy. This costing study can support MR-HIFU reimbursement negotiations and facilitate the adoption of MR-HIFU as first-line treatment for CIBP. The present TD-ABC model creates the opportunity of benchmarking the provision of MR-HIFU to bone tumor. Key points Magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is an emerging noninvasive treatment modality for alleviating cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP). From a hospital perspective, the total cost of MR-HIFU amounted to €5147 per treatment. This time-driven activity-based costing model creates the opportunity of benchmarking the provision of MR-HIFU to bone tumor.