This article explains the costs associated with different stem cell treatments, what will impact the price, and why stem cell therapy may be a good alternative to traditional medications.
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How much does stem cell treatment cost?
Stem cell therapy can costs can range anywhere from $5000-$50,000 USD. Treatment cost will vary dramatically depending on a variety of different factors.
Stem cell therapy cost can be influenced by:
The type of stem cells administered
How many cells are administered
The quality of the cells (are the ethically sourced, viable & regulated?)
Where the laboratory is located (for cell expansion)
The source of stem cells (umbilical cord tissue, adipose tissue, bone marrow, etc.)
It is also important to note that the cost of stem cell therapy will vary depending on the type of treatment needed. The cost of a site injection for an orthopedic condition will be significantly different than an intravenous treatment for an autoimmune condition.
Stem cell therapy cost can range anywhere between $5000 – $50,000. Patients must do their research and ask as many questions as they can before financially committing to treatment. Make sure to know how many cells you are getting, where those cells come from, if they are viable, is the clinic/lab is regulated, and ask for as detailed info to be provided as possible. When considering a potentially life-changing treatment, prospective patients should be weighing these other important factors, in addition to cost, when determining the best location for experimental procedures.
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How much does stem cell therapy cost?
Stem cell therapies have become very popular in recent years, as people are seeking the latest alternative treatments for their many conditions. More and more types of therapies are being introduced every day, and people around the world are turning to them and rejecting traditional regimens of drugs and hospital visits. However, despite the large surge in demand for stem cell therapies, they still remain very expensive to pursue. Even simple joint injections can cost nearly $5000 and more advanced treatments can rise in cost up to $100,000 depending on the condition.
Stem cell therapy cost for knees may differ from stem cell therapy cost for COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The area and issue being treated should generally influence the cost of the associated treatment because different cell types, cell counts and treatment protocols will be needed. For example, an effective stem cell therapy cost for MS will be much different than the cost of a site injection for localized pain.
COVID-19 stem cell treatment cost
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he type of stem cells being administered
The type of stem cells being administered plays a huge role in stem cell therapy costs. There are a few different types of cells, these can be mainly broken down into a few categories:
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections
Birth tissues (umbilical cord blood or amniotic fluid)
Adipose (fat) tissue or bone marrow
Allogenic culture-expanded stem cell procedure (umbilical cord tissue)
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is typically administered via site injections directly into the affected area. This can be performed on the same day and requires no cell expansion, the same is true for umbilical cord blood. Adipose (fat) stem cell procedures can also be performed the same day because they do not require cell expansion. Adipose (fat) and bone marrow stem cell treatments can be quite invasive because they require the cells to be extracted from the patient, which requires surgery.
These treatments can range from $4000 – $8,000 in the United States. Adipose (fat) and Bone Marrow stem cell treatments can be effective for certain orthopedic conditions, but studies have shown that they are not a viable treatment option for chronic widespread inflammation or autoimmune conditions due to a variety of factors including lower cell count and potency. This is what makes expanded cord tissue-derived stem cells so revolutionary.
Allogenic stem cell therapy consists of cells extracted from cord tissue, or “Wharton’s Jelly”. Umbilical cord tissue can have some of the most powerful, primal mesenchymal stem cells that can be found. Studies have shown that stem cells, at the point of birth are at their peak of potency, unaffected by the aging process or disease. However the administration of culturally expanded cells in the United States is largely not authorized according to FDA sections 351 and 361. Stem cell therapy cost for culturally expanded cells ranges from USD 15,000 – USD 45,000.
So why is stem cell therapy so expensive?
The short answer to that question is that the stem cell field is still highly specialized and has not been adopted by the mainstream and insurance companies. Additionally, the field is further restricted by older laws in the United States. That means that there are very few sources for stem cells, labs that are equipped to process stem cells, and reputable clinics that provide the treatments, most of which are located outside the US. Just as with an expensive food or item of clothing, the problem is with availability and production cost.
To fully understand the cost, you first have to look at the treatment preparation process. Stem cells are first acquired by companies that pay hospitals for donated cord tissue, or by doctors that perform fat tissue or bone marrow extractions. The cells are then sent to separate companies which run laboratories that specialize in stem cell expansion. These labs usually have very qualified and specialized staff members and are under the strict regulations of the FDA. The cells are then shipped in cryo-storage overnight around the world to the stem cell clinic. These clinics are staffed with doctors, nurses, and support staff that all play a part in the patient’s experience. This includes everything from marketing, to logistics and the actual medical care. In every stage of this process, there are heavy costs associated with time and labor, before the patient is ever given treatment.
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Who is performing the procedure?
Stem cell therapy cost is linked to whoever performs the treatment. There are a few different types of medical providers that may have the ability to inject the cells.
Nurse Practitioners & Physicians Assistants
Physician Specialists (or a Medical Director)
Unfortunately, there is not always a positive correlation when it comes to comparing stem cell therapy cost with the level of training. When looking for a reputable clinic it is important to make sure that the treatment will be performed by a specialized physician…
Are the cells ethically sourced, viable and regulated?
Stem cell therapy cost can also be associated with the quality of the cells being administered. How the cells are sourced can play a key role in stem cell therapy cost. For example regulations in Mexico and South America are much more lenient than those in the United States, allowing for cells to be acquired at a cheaper cost. However, there is a tradeoff, with less regulation it becomes tough to ensure the safety and viability of the cells. The American Association of Tissue Banks was created for this exact purpose. To regulate donated tissues and heavily screen them for infection and disease. ..
How much do stem cell injections cost?
These treatments can range from $4000 – $8,000 in the United States. Adipose (fat) and Bone Marrow stem cell treatments can be effective for certain orthopedic conditions, but studies have shown that they are not a viable treatment option for chronic widespread inflammation or autoimmune conditions due to a variety of factors including lower cell count and potency. This is what makes expanded cord tissue-derived stem cells so revolutionary.
Allogenic stem cell therapy consists of cells extracted from cord tissue, or “Wharton’s Jelly”. Umbilical cord tissue can have some of the most powerful, primal mesenchymal stem cells that can be found. Studies have shown that stem cells, at the point of birth are at their peak of potency, unaffected by the aging process or disease. However the administration of culturally expanded cells in the United States is largely not authorized according to FDA sections 351 and 361. Stem cell therapy cost for culturally expanded cells ranges from USD 15,000 – USD 45,000.
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Does Medicare cover stem cell therapy?
Medicare also does not cover stem cell therapy in the United States or internationally.
According to Medicare “Due to the experimental nature of most stem cell therapies, coverage through Medicare insurance for treatment with stem cell therapy is limited.”
Legal Environment
Due to the nature of the laws in place, there are no forms of government assistance or incentives for any of these companies, unlike large drug companies. The cost of healthcare in the US is astronomical, but that is still with the large support structure in place for these healthcare companies. With no such support, the stem cell industry is left to provide treatment to patients, which incur most of the cost.Without coverage by most major insurance providers, the only option for patients is either to pay for treatment outright, fundraise for their treatment, or use forms of financing to fund themselves. In many ways, stem cell therapies are not priced differently than many major drugs and treatments, but patients do not always see the cost when working through their insurance. Stem cell therapy then becomes a personal choice. It is often sought after by patients that have had little success with conventional therapies, and wish to try an alternative. Stem cell medicine is still an emerging field and offers hope to many people to overcome their conditions.
Unfortunately, until stem cell medicine is more accepted into the mainstream and the laws are changed to encourage the field to develop, it will remain a highly specialized niche in healthcare. For this reason, treatment costs are not likely to change anytime soon. The best an inquiring patient can do is find a reputable clinic that provides treatments using the highest quality stem cells available to ensure they receive the best results possible….
