Melanoma Screening by Physicians: Time for a Policy Change in the United States

In the United States, the annual cost of melanoma is estimated to be $3.14 billion.¹ This cost, which includes melanoma treatment and productivity losses secondary to melanoma, will continue to rise with the expected increasing melanoma incidence. The annual cost to treat melanoma is $291 million. Estimated productivity losses attributable to melanoma total $2.85 billion. The considerable economic burden of melanoma should call attention to this disease as a national health care priority.