Factors Contributing To Geographic Variation In End-Of-Life Expenditures For Cancer Patients.

ABSTRACT: Health care spending in the months before death varies across geographic areas but is not associated with outcomes. Using data from the prospective multiregional Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance Consortium (CanCORS) study, we assessed the extent to which such variation is explained by differences in patients' sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, and beliefs; physicians' beliefs; and the availability of services. Among 1,132 patients ages sixty-five and older who were diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer in 2003-05, had advanced-stage cancer, died before 2013, and were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, mean expenditures in the last month of life were $13,663. Physicians in higher-spending areas reported less knowledge about and comfort with treating dying patien

SUBMITTER: Keating NL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6059805 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature