Stem Cell Therapy is Expensive But Is Curable

Is Stem Cell Therapy Expensive

How much stem cell therapy costs? Stated by CBC Canada, the costing of stem cell therapy is $6,000 to $10,000 per stem cell therapy for patients. According to a Twitter poll by Bio Informant, the price can be even higher, with stem cell treatments costing as much as $30,000 or more. This article exposes the key factors that influence the cost of stem cell therapy; this includes the type of stem cells used within the procedure, the number of treatments required, and the site of the clinic. It also provides pricing quotes from stem cell clinics within the U.S. and worldwide.

How Is the Cost of Stem Cell Therapy is Estimated?

CBC Canada publishes that the cost of stem cell therapy is $6,000 – $10,000 per stem cell treatment, but this involves Cell Surgical Network (CSN) following its protocol “to remove fat tissue and process it before re-injecting [adipose-derived stem cells] either directly or intravenously into the same patient testimonials.

To further investigate this topic, our team did a deep dive into this topic, including asking our audience what you have paid for different types of stem cell therapy across the U.S. and worldwide. According to our findings, the cost is often much higher, with stem cell treatments costing as much as $25,000 or more.

For the patient, a stem cell transplant involves multiple steps, including:

  • Diagnosis
  • Isolating the adult stem cells
  • Re-administering the cells
  • Post-treatment monitoring and follow-up

Why Is Stem Cell Therapy So Expensive?

For stem cell therapy clinical trials, more than 7,400 volunteers have registered on ClinicalTrials.gov because this registry includes an estimated 3/4th of clinical trials worldwide, the total number of stem cell clinical trials worldwide expected to be nearly 15,300.

New clinical trials are being added every day for a wide range of diseases, including autism, multiple sclerosis (MS), arthritis, cerebral palsy, neuropathy, and many moreconditions.

While this high volume of publications and trials are promising, R&D costs contribute to the overall cost of stem cell therapy.

Affordable Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Stem cell therapy is expensive. Among the cheapest and most straight forward options is to harvest adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) – those that exist in adult fat layers – and re-deliver them to the patient. Unlike harvesting from bone marrow or teeth, providers can feasibly remove fat, separate stem cells, then re-inject them into a patient the same day. This approach is typically less expensive than those that require more invasive procedures for harvesting. Because of its practicality in terms of cost, it has become a common approach to stem cell treatment.

Less Expensive Stem Cell Therapy

Relatively “easy” harvesting still doesn’t translate to inexpensive cost, although some are certainly more affordable than others. For orthopaedic conditions, the price of stem cell therapy is typically lower, averaging between $5,000 and $8,000. Examples of these types of medical conditions include:

  • Knee osteoarthritis
  • Rotator cuff tendonitis
  • Tennis elbow
  • Arthritis
  • Cartilage defects

Note that these prices are typically out-of-pocket costs paid by the patient because most insurance companies will not cover them. They are considered experimental and unapproved by the FDA. It means patients needing stem cell treatment will need to use their savings.

Stem Cell Transplant VS Bone Marrow Transplant  – Compare the Cost

Although fat is a frequently utilized source for stem cells, it is also possible for physicians to use stem cells from bone marrow. MedAcess provides this service in the U.S. and Cayman Islands. With the MedAcess stem cell injection procedure, a small bone marrow sample extracted through a needle, and blood is drawn from a vein in the arm. These samples processed in a laboratory, and the cells it contains injected into an area of the body that needs repair. On June 19, 2018, ACAP Health, a “leading provider in innovative, clinical-based solutions, partnered with MedAcess to reduce high-cost musculoskeletal surgeries.” ACAP Health is a national leader in employer healthcare expense reduction. It is one of the first healthcare groups to partner with a stem cell treatment group to support insurance coverage to patients.

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