Socioeconomic Differences in Use of Low-Value Cancer Screenings and Distributional Effects in Medicare.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Consuming low-value health care not only highlights inefficient resource use but also brings an important concern regarding the economics of disparities. We identify the relation of socioeconomic characteristics to the use of low-value cancer screenings in Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) settings, and quantify the amount subsidized from nonusers and taxpayers to users of these screenings.

Data sources

2007-2013 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, Medicare FFS claims, and the Area Health Resource Files.

Study design

Our sample included enrollees in FFS Part B for the entire calendar year. We excluded beneficiaries with a claims-documented or self-reported history of targeted cancers, or those enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare Advantage plans. We identified use

SUBMITTER: Xu WY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5583315 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature