Prostate cancer is a common and expensive disease with annual spending topping $12 billion. During the past decade, prostate cancer spending has increased by 11% annually, outpacing growth rates for other common conditions such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. This growth is due, in part, to financial incentives afforded by urologist self-referral of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The recent proliferatio of large urology groups has the potential to further amplify these trends. The formation of these large groups has been propagated by their unique investment opportunities, such as ownership interests in expensive equipment to provide intensity modulated radiation therapy and cross-sectional imaging. However, proponents argue that their """"""""one-stop"""""""" model results in better care integration for men with prostate cancer, ultimately yielding better quality at a lower cost. Thus, the goal of this national study is to better understand relationships between urologist practice organization and the quantity, quality and cost of prostate cancer care. To examine this issue more carefully, this grant has the following three aims.
Aim 1. To assess relationships between urologist practice organization and prostate cancer utilization. Using national Medicare and SEER-Medicare data, we will measure how prostate cancer detection and treatment are mediated by urologist group practice structure.
Aim 2. To measure relationships between urologist practice organization and the quality of prostate cancer care. Using similar methods, we will determine the effect of urologist practice structure on the quality of prostate cancer care including adherence to nationally endorsed standards and the breadth of overuse.
Aim 3. To assess relationships between urologist practice organization and prostate cancer expenditures. We will measure the association between urologist practice structure and national Medicare payments, both per capita (i.e., average overall spending) and per episode surrounding local treatment. This proposal has real-world implications for all prostate cancer stakeholders. First, our findings with respect to quality have immediate implications for patients, who are logically interested in mechanisms for improving the quality of prostate care delivered. Second, understanding the relative efficiency of prostate cancer care is of immediate interest to payers and policymakers as they explore strategies to improve quality while limiting unnecessary spending growth.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal will use national Medicare and SEER-Medicare data to assess relationships between urologist practice organization and the quantity, quality and cost of prostate cancer care. Understanding the potential trade-offs between quality and costs of care inherent in different types of practice organizations is of immediate interest to payers and policymakers as they explore strategies to improve the care of men with prostate cancer while limiting unnecessary spending growth.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA168691-02
Application #
8623109
Study Section
Health Services Organization and Delivery Study Section (HSOD)
Program Officer
Warren, Joan
Project Start
2013-03-01
Project End
2017-02-28
Budget Start
2014-03-01
Budget End
2015-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$391,691
Indirect Cost
$139,800
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Urology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Borza, Tudor; Kaufman, Samuel R; Yan, Phyllis et al. (2018) Early effect of Medicare Shared Savings Program accountable care organization participation on prostate cancer care. Cancer 124:563-570
Hollenbeck, Brent K; Kaufman, Samuel R; Yan, Phyllis et al. (2018) Urologist Practice Affiliation and Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer in the Elderly. Eur Urol 73:491-498
Urish, Kenneth L; Qin, Yongmei; Li, Benjamin Y et al. (2018) Predictors and Cost of Readmission in Total Knee Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty 33:2759-2763
Luckenbaugh, Amy N; Hollenbeck, Brent K; Kaufman, Samuel R et al. (2018) Impact of Accountable Care Organizations on Diagnostic Testing for Prostate Cancer. Urology 116:68-75
Shahinian, Vahakn B; Kaufman, Samuel R; Yan, Phyllis et al. (2017) Reimbursement and use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Medicine (Baltimore) 96:e6929
Herrel, Lindsey A; Kaufman, Samuel R; Yan, Phyllis et al. (2017) Health Care Integration and Quality among Men with Prostate Cancer. J Urol 197:55-60
Hollenbeck, Brent K; Kaufman, Samuel R; Borza, Tudor et al. (2017) Accountable care organizations and prostate cancer care. Urol Pract 4:454-461
Hollenbeck, Brent K; Bierlein, Maggie J; Kaufman, Samuel R et al. (2016) Implications of evolving delivery system reforms for prostate cancer care. Am J Manag Care 22:569-75
Schroeck, Florian R; Kaufman, Samuel R; Jacobs, Bruce L et al. (2014) Regional variation in quality of prostate cancer care. J Urol 191:957-62
Zhang, Yun; Hollenbeck, Brent K; Schroeck, Florian R et al. (2014) Managed care and the dissemination of robotic prostatectomy. Surg Innov 21:566-71

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