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New Study Analyzes Cost Disparities in Cancer Medications for Medicare Advantage versus Traditional Medicare Patients
- Medicare Advantage patients are more likely to receive less expensive cancer treatment options than those under Traditional Medicare, according to research by the University of Colorado. For patients with colorectal cancer, those under Medicare Advantage received cheaper cancer drugs than those under Traditional Medicare, though this raised concerns over access to necessary therapies. For non-small cell lung cancer, treatment options were typically expensive, regardless of healthcare coverage. The study showed a significant discrepancy in treatment costs between the two groups. The researchers examined 4,000 patients and assessed their costs and access to cancer-directed drugs.
- Six percentage points less colorectal patients under Medicare Advantage received any cancer treatment than Traditional Medicare, while those with distant non-cellular lung cancer had an even lower 10% likelihood to receive medication under Medicare Advantage. High-cost therapies were also 10 and nine percentage points lower for local/regional and distant colorectal cancer patients under Medicare Advantage than Traditional Medicare, respectively. The research noted important implications for patients fertility such as on cancer-care adequacy under the insurance schemes
- The researchers used a retrospective cohort study design for their investigative research. They examined patient data from Colorado All Payer Claims Database and the Colorado Central Cancer Registry for adults (aged 65 and over) diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer.
- Overall, the research is significant to evaluate whether the cost-saving strategies employed by Medicare Advantage efficiently control the prescribing of high-cost drugs in clinical practice. The authors proposed that further research is necessary to explore the dynamics properly in terms of treatment accessibility, patient outcomes, and broader healthcare policies. The authors aim to extend their research to include additional databases and regional comparisons across urban and rural settings.
- The study underscores the need for extensive investigations regarding the relationship between insurance types and patient care in oncology. Healthcare stakeholders must evaluate the plans continuously to shape the future of cancer treatment in the United States.
- In summary, the findings revealed that Medicare Advantage patients tend to get less costly cancer treatment options. Understanding these differences becomes vital to optimize cancer care and ensure equal access to vital medications. The results underline the focus on evaluating the effect of different health plans in providing adequate care in clinical practice. The authors aim to expand on their findings to incorporate additional databases, granting a more nuanced understanding of how cancer treatment access and costs vary across different geographies.
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