Breast cancer stage cost analysis in a managed care population. Based on a presentation by Kenneth L. McDonough, MD, MS.

A sample managed care plan provides the framework for examining data on breast cancer, employing a naturalistic setting as opposed to the randomized control trial model. Breast cancer costs are analyzed by disease stage, which is broken down further by treatment phase. This approach compares the costs of those with treated disease to a control group, essentially performing a case mix adjustment for comorbidities. Such an approach encompasses the claims database characteristics, defines the breast cancer stages and treatment phases, and describes the criteria used for the control group, as well as the methodology utilized in the case mix adjustment.