Variation in prostate cancer treatment and spending among Medicare shared savings program accountable care organizations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Accountable care organizations (ACOs) have been shown to reduce prostate cancer treatment among men unlikely to benefit because of competing risks (ie, potential overtreatment). This study assessed whether the level of engagement in ACOs by urologists affected rates of treatment, overtreatment, and spending.

Methods

A 20% sample of national Medicare data was used to identify men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2012 and 2014. The extent of urologist engagement in an ACO, as measured by the proportion of patients in an ACO managed by an ACO-participating urologist, served as the exposure. The use of treatment, potential overtreatment (ie, treatment in men with a ≥75% risk of 10-year noncancer mortality), and average payments in the year after diagnosis for ea

SUBMITTER: Modi PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6108926 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature