# Hospital at Home Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: An Economic Analysis

## TL;DR

This study shows that hospital-at-home care for stem cell transplant patients can reduce costs by up to 33% compared to inpatient hospital care.

## Contribution

The study provides new economic evidence supporting hospital-at-home care as a cost-effective alternative for allo-HSCT patients.

## Key findings

- Hospital-at-home care reduced peritransplant costs by up to 33% compared to in-hospital care.
- At least a third of allo-HSCT patients are potential candidates for hospital-at-home treatment.
- Advanced home care for allo-HSCT patients results in significantly lower total costs.

## Abstract

Background: Advanced home care is becoming increasingly common for cancer patients and serves as a viable alternative to inpatient hospital care. The transition to home care is driven by both the rising costs of healthcare and evidence indicating better quality of care. This study aims to compare the costs of hospital-at-home treatment and in-hospital care for patients undergoing allo-HSCT. Methods: The cost analysis was conducted as a case–control study comparing the costs of allo-HSCT at home (HaH) to the costs of allo-HSCT for patients receiving in-hospital care (INH). The cost evaluation was conducted from the hospital’s perspective, which means that costs incurred outside the hospital setting were not included. Post-procedural costs for the first year after allo-HSCT included all readmissions and outpatient visits at Oslo University Hospital. Results: The cost for the peritransplant period could be reduced by up to 33% by treating allo-HSCT recipients at home instead of in the hospital. During the study period, 24% of the allo-HSCT recipients were treated at home, but our data from 2021 and 2022 indicate that at least a third of the patients scheduled for allo-HSCT are candidates for HaH. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that patients in advanced home care experience significantly lower total costs compared to those receiving in-hospital treatment.