Smaller proton-beam centres in US seek to cut cost of therapy: report
Top Story
By: Katie Bell
Ref: The Wall Street Journal
Published: 05/27/2015
A number of new proton-beam therapy centres are set to open in the US this year, despite questions surrounding the benefits of the treatment over traditional radiation and its associated higher costs, The Wall Street Journal reported. However, supporters note that the majority of the new centres are smaller versions costing only a fraction of the cost of some facilities.
Specifically, The Wall Street Journal noted that six new proton-beam centres are due to open by the end of this year, with 10 more expected by 2018, bringing the total to in the US to 30. Planners said they expect to treat 1500 patients annually with a profit of $5.8 million after three years.
According to The Wall Street Journal, five of the centres opening this year are compact versions of the large proton facilities that can cost between $100 million and $200 million to build. "Proton therapy was ridiculously expensive — there had to be a way to make it more accessible," remarked Joseph Jachinowski, CEO of Mevion Medical Systems, adding that the company's systems use just one-twentieth the energy and one-tenth the operating staff of the larger centres. Mevion makes proton systems costing between $25 million and $30 million, with single treatment rooms instead of the usual four or five. Other proton manufacturers, such as Varian Medical Systems, Ion Beam Applications and Hitachi, are also building compact systems in centres in the US, Europe, Asia and the Mideast.
Health insurers including Aetna and UnitedHealth stopped covering proton-beam therapy for prostate cancer after a 2012 study found it has no added long-term benefit. The Wall Street Journal noted that as a result, men with prostate cancer make up less than half the patients at proton-beam centres compared with 70 percent previously. Meanwhile, some facilities are treating breast, lung and other cancers, and evaluating alternative payment models while they generate more data.
Despite this, most Medicare regions cover proton-beam therapy for prostate cancer, at around $1100 per treatment session, compared with $600 for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The University of Pennsylvania Health System is accepting the same rate from two insurers for proton-beam therapy and IMRT, while it tracks patient outcomes. Meanwhile, the Mayo Clinic plans to start treating patients at its $180 million proton centre, next month, charging the same rates for proton therapy and IMRT.
Moving forward, The Wall Street Journal suggested that supporters of proton-beam therapy have high hopes that hypofractionation, where higher doses of radiation are delivered in fewer treatment sessions, will help bring the cost more in line with IMRT. Studies testing this are under way. "All of the top 10 cancer centers in the US have proton therapy or are developing a centre, which shows they believe in it," commented Scott Warwick, chair of industry group the National Association for Proton Therapy.
Specifically, The Wall Street Journal noted that six new proton-beam centres are due to open by the end of this year, with 10 more expected by 2018, bringing the total to in the US to 30. Planners said they expect to treat 1500 patients annually with a profit of $5.8 million after three years.
According to The Wall Street Journal, five of the centres opening this year are compact versions of the large proton facilities that can cost between $100 million and $200 million to build. "Proton therapy was ridiculously expensive — there had to be a way to make it more accessible," remarked Joseph Jachinowski, CEO of Mevion Medical Systems, adding that the company's systems use just one-twentieth the energy and one-tenth the operating staff of the larger centres. Mevion makes proton systems costing between $25 million and $30 million, with single treatment rooms instead of the usual four or five. Other proton manufacturers, such as Varian Medical Systems, Ion Beam Applications and Hitachi, are also building compact systems in centres in the US, Europe, Asia and the Mideast.
Health insurers including Aetna and UnitedHealth stopped covering proton-beam therapy for prostate cancer after a 2012 study found it has no added long-term benefit. The Wall Street Journal noted that as a result, men with prostate cancer make up less than half the patients at proton-beam centres compared with 70 percent previously. Meanwhile, some facilities are treating breast, lung and other cancers, and evaluating alternative payment models while they generate more data.
Despite this, most Medicare regions cover proton-beam therapy for prostate cancer, at around $1100 per treatment session, compared with $600 for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The University of Pennsylvania Health System is accepting the same rate from two insurers for proton-beam therapy and IMRT, while it tracks patient outcomes. Meanwhile, the Mayo Clinic plans to start treating patients at its $180 million proton centre, next month, charging the same rates for proton therapy and IMRT.
Moving forward, The Wall Street Journal suggested that supporters of proton-beam therapy have high hopes that hypofractionation, where higher doses of radiation are delivered in fewer treatment sessions, will help bring the cost more in line with IMRT. Studies testing this are under way. "All of the top 10 cancer centers in the US have proton therapy or are developing a centre, which shows they believe in it," commented Scott Warwick, chair of industry group the National Association for Proton Therapy.