Cost of a home parenteral nutrition program.

We analyzed the costs to a hospital of providing complete home parenteral nutrition (HPN) services for eight patients. Identified cost components include patient training, equipment, supplies, and follow-up. The average annual cost of maintaining parenteral nutrition at home was 73% lower than it would have been in the hospital. The establishment of private companies to provide patients with HPN supplies and services will reduce the financial burden of HPN programs for hospitals.