Understanding Regional Variation in the Cost of Breast Cancer Screening Among Privately Insured Women in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Breast cancer screening for women aged 40-49 years is prevalent and costly, with costs varying substantially across US regions. Newer approaches to mammography may improve cancer detection but also increase screening costs. We assessed factors associated with regional variation in screening costs.

Methods

We used Blue Cross Blue Shield Axis, a large US commercial claims database accessed through secure portal, to assess regional variation in screening utilization and costs. We included screening mammography±digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), screening ultrasound, diagnostic mammography±DBT, diagnostic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and biopsy, and evaluated their utilization and costs. We assessed regional variation in annual per-screened-beneficiary cost

SUBMITTER: Kunst N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8611614 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature