Impact of change in the price of percutaneous coronary intervention devices on medical expenses.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) devices are much more expensive in Japan than in the United States, but their prices were reduced in April 2002. This study evaluated the impact of that change in the price of PCI devices on medical expenses. In-hospital costs of 22 consecutive patients who underwent elective single-vessel PCI without a debulking procedure before April 2002 were collected and the in-hospital cost of each patient was recalculated by applying the current prices of the PCI devices and those in the USA. For patients treated with PCI before April 2002, the in-hospital cost was 1,456,375+/-358,781 yen, but when the current price is used, the in-hospital cost is estimated to be 1,355,812 +/-313,237 yen (7% reduction). If the prices of the devices were reduced to those in USA, there would be a 53% reduction (689,417 +/-99,139 yen). Although the change in the price of PCI devices in April 2002 has reduced in-hospital costs, the devices are still much more expensive in Japan than in the USA. Further reduction of the price is required to make PCI more cost-effective.