PURPOSE Among Australian women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. The out-of-pocket cost to the patient is substantial. This study estimates the total patient co-payments for Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for women diagnosed with breast cancer and determined the distribution of these costs by Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status. METHODS Data on women diagnosed with breast cancer in Queensland between 01 July 2011 and 30 June 2012 were obtained from the Queensland Cancer Registry and linked with hospital and Emergency Department Admissions, and MBS and PBS records for the 3 years post-diagnosis. The data were then weighted to be representative of the Australian population. The co-payment charged for MBS services and PBS prescriptions was summed. We modelled the mean co-payment per patient during each 6-month time period for MBS services and PBS prescriptions. RESULTS A total of 3079 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Queensland during the 12-month study period, representing 15,335 Australian women after weighting. In the first 3 years post-diagnosis, the median co-payment for MBS services was AU$ 748 (IQR, AU$87-2121; maximum AU$32,249), and for PBS prescriptions was AU$ 835 (IQR, AU$480-1289; maximum AU$5390). There were significant differences in the co-payments for MBS services and PBS prescriptions by Indigenous status and socioeconomic disadvantage, but none for remoteness. CONCLUSIONS Women incur high patient co-payments in the first 3 years post-diagnosis. These costs vary greatly by patient. Potential costs should be discussed with women throughout their treatment, to allow women greater choice in the most appropriate care for their situation.

中文翻译：

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在澳大利亚，诊断为患有乳腺癌的妇女的患者自付额。

目的在澳大利亚女性中，乳腺癌是最常被诊断出的癌症。患者的自付费用是巨大的。这项研究估计了被诊断患有乳腺癌的女性的医疗保险福利计划（MBS）和药物福利计划（PBS）的患者共付额，并根据土著身份，偏远地区和社会经济状况确定了这些费用的分配。方法2011年7月1日至2012年6月30日在昆士兰州被诊断出患有乳腺癌的妇女数据来自昆士兰州癌症登记处，并与医院和急诊科的入院率以及诊断后3年的MBS和PBS记录相关联。然后将数据加权以代表澳大利亚人口。MBS服务和PBS处方的共付额相加。我们对MBS服务和PBS处方在每6个月期间每位患者的平均共付额进行了建模。结果在为期12个月的研究期间，昆士兰州共有3079名女性被诊断出患有乳腺癌，这代表称量体重后的15335名澳大利亚女性。在诊断后的前三年中，MBS服务的共同付款中位数为748澳元（IQR，87-2121澳元；最高32,249澳元），而PBS处方的共同付款为835澳元（IQR，480-1289澳元；最高AU $ 5390）。MBS服务和PBS处方的共付额因土著身份和社会经济劣势而有显着差异，但偏远地区则没有。结论妇女在诊断后的前3年需要支付高额的患者自付费用。这些费用因患者而异。在治疗过程中应与妇女讨论潜在费用，