Estimating Costs to Implement Cancer Control Strategies

Authors:

Sarah Mott (Presenter)
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Polly Hager, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Amanda Menzies, Public Sector Consultants
Katie Van Dorn, Public Sector Consultants

Public Health Statement: Identifying the cost and effectiveness of implementing strategies in Michigan’s cancer plan could provide information for stakeholders to consider as they determine how to invest in evidence-based and promising practices to reduce cancer burden.

Purpose: The primary research question was, how much would it cost to implement each strategy associated with the priority objectives in Michigan’s cancer plan statewide? Where possible, strategy effectiveness was assessed.

Methods/Approach: The Michigan Cancer Prevention and Control Program worked with a consultant to complete an economic analysis. Cancer prevention and control strategies included in the analysis reflect priority objectives for Michigan’s cancer plan. The following approaches were used to estimate costs: reviewing economic evidence provided in The Guide to Community Preventive Services; researching peer-reviewed studies; calculating the cost of hiring an external consultant to plan implementation; and identifying the amount of funds currently used to implement a strategy in a community.

Results: The research findings and resulting report provide the estimated cost and effectiveness for implementing a wide variety of strategies toward the achievement of ten objectives across four priority areas. The cost per person targeted ranged from $0.13 to $1,238, based on intervention intensity. Due to the variability in information available and approaches used, some cost estimates are more robust than others.

Conclusions/Implications: With information on the effectiveness and estimated cost of a wide variety of strategies for reducing cancer incidence and mortality, the study findings provide a foundation for a plan to achieve the objectives in the state’s cancer plan.