Return on Investment of Free Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests in a Primarily Rural Uninsured or Underinsured Population in Northeast Texas

Abstract

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the USA. Its economic impact is extensive, and preventive screening services are warranted to help prevent it. Objective We sought to examine the return on investment, in terms of reduced costs attributed to cancer prevention, of a CRC screening outreach program providing education and screening in a primarily rural region targeting the uninsured and underinsured. Methods The expenditures of the Northeast Texas CRC screening program were calculated for the years of 2016 and 2017. Prices ($US) were adjusted for inflation and converted to year 2017 values. The costs saved were calculated using the estimated costs of CRC care present in the literature. Results For fiscal years 2016 and 2017, the program provided an average return of $US1.46-2.06 for every tax dollar spent.

Artificial Intelligence Can Cut Costs While Maintaining Accuracy in Colorectal Cancer Genotyping

“…It is important to recognize that applying artificial intelligence to digital histopathology is only one cog in a much broader wheel of strategies to curb healthcare spending. For example, screening for early detection of colorectal cancer is another vital component of a greater program to curb costs, as screening is estimated to be associated with $1.50 to $2.00 in returns for each dollar spent ( 16 ). Uptake of cost-cutting measures like AI relies on appropriate financial incentives presented to hospitals and clinics.…”

Does National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program Represent Good Value for Money? Results from a Return-on-Investment Model in Vietnam

“…Other authors, Orsak et al 11 evaluated the ROI of CRC screening program in rural Texas. The study evaluates the ROI of the CRC screening program as well as of expanding the CRC screening program in a larger scale.…”

“…2 , 13 , 14 Percentage of patients at each CRC stage in Vietnam was collected from searching the available literature. 2 Moreover, the rate of developing CRC cases from having polyps and the rate of early-stage CRC detected was borrowed from Orsak et al 11 …”

“…Step 4—Estimating the cost of nation-wide CRC screening program : In line with other ROI estimation on cancer screening programs, only direct costs related to the program were included. 11 , 16 The total cost of the screening program, thus, consisted of: (1) cost of program planning and management induced by Vietnam National Cancer Control Program and other stakeholders, (2) cost of conducting communication activities, collected from Vietnam National Cancer Control Program, (3) cost of delivery FOBT test occurred at commune healthcare centers, (4) cost of conducting follow-up colonoscopy occurred at district-level, provincial-level and central-level hospitals, (5) other operating cost of the screening program. Table 1 presents the detailed input parameters and data sources used.…”