Trends in use, cost, and outcomes of human recombinant erythropoietin, 1989-98.

In this article the authors present descriptive data showing trends in human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) doses, charges, and patient hematocrits from the fourth quarter of calendar year 1989 to the first quarter of 1998 for all recipients and recent data for patients treated by in-center hemodialysis. In 1997 nearly all in-center hemodialysis patients received EPO regularly at an average cost per recipient of $6,245 per year for total allowed charges of $842.2 million per year. The study shows that policy changes may have both anticipated and unanticipated effects on medical practice.