On Wednesday 22nd November, Palliative Care NSW attended the Centre for Palliative Care’s annual lecture webinar on the Economics of Palliative Care. Associate Professor Chris Schilling presented the latest evidence on the impact of Palliative Care on health service costs, exploring the health economics of palliative care as depicted by a systemic review of 14 current research studies. The lecture aimed to provide attendees with a better understanding of the health economics of palliative care and how this information can be used to further highlight the benefits of funding and further investments in palliative care.
Schilling explained that there continues to be a lack of awareness about the role of palliative care and the benefits it can provide to patients with life-limiting illnesses. It was highlighted that the health economics of palliative care help to inform decision making by governments regarding budgets and related funding for palliative care interventions. An economic evaluation with a cost-effectiveness plane was used to depict how palliative care interventions were evaluated, including the comparison of costs and outcomes. The studies examined in the systemic review explored the cost-effectiveness of palliative care when compared to ‘usual care’ for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
The findings of the latest evidence depict that palliative care can be highly cost-effective when compared to ‘usual care’ provided to patients with life-limiting illnesses. The review showed that there is high quality evidence that specialist palliative care interventions can reduce end-of-life hospitalisations, Emergency Department visits and other related costs. Therefore, greater investments in palliative care interventions and services will have positive economic benefit, while also enabling patients with life-limiting illnesses access to specialist care that aims to improve quality of life. The review serves as a further example of the benefits of investing in palliative care, while providing up-to-date evidence to highlight the cost-effectiveness of palliative care in comparison to other ‘usual’ forms of care.
Schilling concluded,
“There is a misconception about the value of palliative care, yet the health economics of palliative care are strong”.
Kirsty Blades, Palliative Care NSW CEO shares these key learnings and reflections from the webinar:
- Continued investment in research in Australia that further demonstrates the economic benefits of palliative care and adds to our Australian evidence base is essential. Our evidence base in Australia is stronger than what it has been but needs to continue to build. The governments budget is finite and tight budgets have led to palliative care funding cuts, proven economic benefits are needed to minimise this risk in the future. How can your organisation invest in economic evaluations with the assistance of a health economist and then openly share this data?
- While talking about economic benefits can feel uncomfortable and in conflict to our ethos of people being at the heart of palliative care, not money, we must acknowledge that decision making by governments will be informed and influenced by economic evaluations and the comparison of costs and outcomes. How as a sector are we demonstrating in our funding submissions that not only are we positively impacting the lives of individuals and their families, but that palliative care is also a cost-effective intervention?
- It is fantastic to see that the work the sector does every day is having a positive impact on multiple fronts. From reduced emergency department attendance to reduced hospitalisations to reduced costs and importantly to the significant effect that palliative care has on health related quality of life. While it can be frustrating when this is not acknowledged by the government and therefore in funding levels, we should not lose sight of the positive impact we are making to healthcare generally and the community, we should celebrate this and we should make sure we continue to talk about this consistently and loudly.
The lecture is available to view at www.centreforpallcare.org/page/69/webinars
Associate Professor Schilling and his team are converting this presentation into a working paper that is expected to be released by June of next year. We will be sure to share this once released. Associate Professor Schilling is very happy to be contacted regarding this work: https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/672934-chris-schilling