Chronic pancreatitis imposes substantial human and financial costs, including hospitalizations and medical care, absences from work and school for patients and family, opioid addiction, and other consequences of chronic pain.

An 2014 analysis of the costs of chronic pancreatitis in the United Kingdom estimated the annual cost to be the equivalent of over $100,000 per patient per year—and that was likely an underestimate. The study concluded: “Patients with chronic pancreatitis consume a disproportionately high volume of resources.”¹

Who bears the cost of chronic pancreatitis?

Patients and their families

bear the greatest burden, as they struggle to pay for medical care, maintain employment and schooling, and cope with tremendous pain.

Healthcare Payers

bear the costs of repeated hospital visits, primary and specialist care, endoscopic procedures, and medications.

Employers

contribute to healthcare costs and bear the cost of employees who are in too much pain to work and families who need to take time to care for their loved ones.

Governments

may contribute to healthcare costs and provide benefits to patients who are too disabled to work.

Right now, these people and companies are bearing significant costs, with dismal outcomes. Could some of these payers use some of their funding to incentivize development of cures or therapies that will reduce these costs? We believe patient outcome financing is the vehicle for doing that, and the path to a healthier, more productive future.

1 Hall et al, The socioeconomic impact of chronic pancreatitis: a systematic review, J Eval Clin Pract. 2014 Jun;20(3):203-7.