Variation in Use of High-Cost Technologies for Palliative Radiation Therapy by Radiation Oncologists.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding the sources of variation in the use of high-cost technologies is important for developing effective strategies to control costs of care. Palliative radiation therapy (RT) is a discretionary treatment and its use may vary based on patient and clinician factors.

Methods

Using data from the SEER-Medicare linked database, we identified patients diagnosed with metastatic lung, prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers in 2010 through 2015 who received RT, and the radiation oncologists who treated them. The costs of radiation services for each patient over a 90-day episode were calculated, and radiation oncologists were assigned to cost quintiles. The use of advanced technologies (eg, intensity-modulated radiation, stereotactic RT) and the number of RT trea

SUBMITTER: Chen AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9109157 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature