Variation in the Cost of Managing Actinic Keratosis.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Actinic keratosis (AK), a skin growth induced by ultraviolet light exposure, requires chronic management because a small proportion can progress into squamous cell skin cancer. Spending for AK management was more than $1 billion in 2004. Investigating geographic variation in AK spending presents an opportunity to decrease waste or recoup excess spending.

Objective

To evaluate geographic variation in health care cost for management of AKs and the association with patient-related and health-related factors.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cohort study was performed using data from the MarketScan medical claims database of 488 324 continuously enrolled members with 2 or more claims for AK. Data from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2012, w

SUBMITTER: Kirby JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5470414 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature