OBJECTIVES

: This study assesed the impact of Nilotinib in the second-line treatment of imatinib-resistant or intolerant patients to Chinese health care system, and analyzed the affordability of China's Basic Health Insurance Fund if Nilotinib reimbursed under local coverage.

METHODS

: Based on the direct-medical expenditure data of CML patients, CML epidemiological information, China Basic Medical Insurance medical insurance payment policy, and the urban basic medical insurance database, this study built a budget impact analysis model to assess the impact of Nilotinib on China's health insurance reimbursement system over the next five years (2016-2020).

RESULTS

: The accumulative special drug cost savings for five years was 1.84 million, the outpatient cost was saved 59,000 yuan, and the hospitalization cost was saved 4.072 million yuan. The discounted total medical expenses saved 597-635 million yuan, a cumulative reduction of 148 hospitalizations, a total reduction of 2661.9 days hospitalization time, saving 188 life years, and more to obtain 170.7 QALY. In the case that imatinib had been included in the payment of medical insurance, nilotinib was included in the list of payment for medical insurance, and significant savings occurred in the nationwide medical insurance fund, and the total cost of expenditure was reduced by 51.10 million yuan annually in China.

CONCLUSIONS

: The analysis predicts that the inclusion of nilotinib in the Chinese medical reimbursement system for the treatment of imatinib-resistant or intolerant CML patients will increase the medical benefits while the total cost of medical insurance funds will also be significantly saved.