The Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) is set to experience significant cost savings following the introduction of cenobamate as an adjunctive treatment for adults suffering from drug-resistant focal onset seizures (FOS).
Study Methodology Assesses Financial Impact
Researchers developed a prevalence-based budget impact model (BIM) from the NIHDI’s perspective, analyzing all direct healthcare costs over a three-year period. Experienced epileptologists contributed data through a standardized expert elicitation process to accurately represent Belgian clinical practices. To ensure reliability, a one-way sensitivity analysis (OWSA) was conducted to explore uncertainties in the source data.
Cenobamate Demonstrates Substantial Cost Savings
The analysis projected that incorporating cenobamate into treatment protocols would lower the NIHDI’s budget by €105,616 over three years. This cost reduction factors in the cumulative expenses of cenobamate, the replacement of other third-generation ASMs, and savings realized from decreased medical costs due to effective seizure management.
– Cenobamate’s high efficacy reduces the reliance on multiple anti-seizure medications.
– Significant response rates contribute to a decrease in seizure frequency and related medical expenses.
– Transitioning from other costly third-generation ASMs to cenobamate enhances overall budget efficiency.
The introduction of cenobamate not only offsets its own drug costs but also results in net savings for the Belgian healthcare system. This outcome highlights cenobamate’s dual role in providing effective seizure control and achieving economic sustainability within the health insurance framework.
Adopting cenobamate as a standard adjunctive treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy could set a precedent for integrating high-efficacy medications to optimize both patient outcomes and healthcare budgets. As medical treatments advance, such cost-benefit analyses become crucial in guiding policy decisions and ensuring the long-term viability of healthcare systems.
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