In a recently published study, Eric Ross from McLean Hospital and CHDS’ Djøra Soeteman showed that Esketamine can be cost-effective for patients with treatment-resistant depression if the price drops by at least 40%.
They found that Esketamine improved quality of life by increasing time in remission compared with the conventional drugs, but societal costs were projected to increase substantially. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio from the societal perspective of Esketamine versus oral antidepressants was $237,111/QALY, which exceeds commonly applied cost-effectiveness thresholds in the US. Under the current conditions, Esketamine is unlikely to be a cost-effective option unless the price of Esketamine reduces by more than 40% from its current price of about $240 per dose U.S. The authors hope that these findings will encourage policymakers and insurers to work towards price reductions while ensuring access for patients who could benefit from it.
Learn more: Read the full Psychiatric Services article.
Learn more: Explore CHDS resources for Mental Health and Modeling.
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