PURPOSE: To characterize overall receipt and timeliness of radiation therapy (RT) following breast-conserving surgery among Medicaid-insured patients. METHOD: State cancer registry data linked with Medicaid claims from 2003 to 2009 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic and Cox proportional hazards regressions were employed. RESULTS: Overall, 81% of patients received guideline-recommended RT. Significant variation in timing of RT initiation was documented. Having fewer comorbitidies and receiving chemotherapy were correlated with higher odds of RT initiation within 1 year. CONCLUSION: Although RT use in Medicaid-insured women appears to have improved since earlier studies, documented delays in RT are troublesome and warrant further investigation.
PURPOSE: To characterize overall receipt and timeliness of radiation therapy (RT) following breast-conserving surgery among Medicaid-insured patients. METHOD: State cancer registry data linked with Medicaid claims from 2003 to 2009 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic and Cox proportional hazards regressions were employed. RESULTS: Overall, 81% of patients received guideline-recommended RT. Significant variation in timing of RT initiation was documented. Having fewer comorbitidies and receiving chemotherapy were correlated with higher odds of RT initiation within 1 year. CONCLUSION: Although RT use in Medicaid-insured women appears to have improved since earlier studies, documented delays in RT are troublesome and warrant further investigation.
Authors: Anne-Marie Meyer; Andrew F Olshan; Laura Green; Adrian Meyer; Stephanie B Wheeler; Ethan Basch; William R Carpenter Journal: N C Med J Date: 2014 Jul-Aug
Authors: Stephanie B Wheeler; Racquel E Kohler; Ravi K Goyal; Kristen H Lich; Ching-Ching Lin; Alexis Moore; Timothy W Smith; Cathy L Melvin; Katherine Reeder-Hayes; Marisa E Domino Journal: Med Care Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Judith Lee Smith; Lori A Pollack; Juan L Rodriguez; Nikki A Hawkins; Tenbroeck Smith; Ruth Rechis; Andy Miller; Anne Willis; Helen Miller; Ingrid J Hall; Temeika L Fairley; Brenda Stone-Wiggins Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2013-04-23 Impact factor: 4.442
Authors: Anne-Marie Meyer; Katherine E Reeder-Hayes; Huan Liu; Stephanie B Wheeler; Dolly Penn; Bryan J Weiner; William R Carpenter Journal: Med Care Date: 2013-09 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Stanimira Krotneva; Kristen Reidel; Mohammed Nassif; Nora Trabulsi; Nancy Mayo; Robyn Tamblyn; Ari N Meguerditchian Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2013-07-24 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Joseph M Unger; Charles D Blanke; Michael LeBlanc; William E Barlow; Riha Vaidya; Scott D Ramsey; Dawn L Hershman Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2020-04-01