Building capacity to assess cancer care in the Medicaid population in New York State.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To link data from a central cancer registry with Medicaid enrollment and claims files in order to assess cancer care in an economically disadvantaged population.

Data sources

Over 500,000 cancer patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2006 reported to the New York State Cancer Registry were linked with New York State Medicaid enrollment and claims records.

Study design

A probabilistic linkage was performed between the two data sources. The resulting Medicaid and non-Medicaid populations were compared in terms of demographics and stage at diagnosis.

Data collection methods

Existing databases were used.

Principal findings

One-quarter of cancer patients were enrolled in Medicaid at or near the time of cancer diagnosis. The Medicaid cohort was younger,

SUBMITTER: Boscoe FP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3087842 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature