Managed care enrollment and chronically disabled women with breast cancer

Elizabeth B. Habermann, Beth A. Virnig, Sara B. Durham, Nancy N. Baxter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether managed care enrollment or healthcare utilization level among women enrolled in Medicare because of disability affects stage at diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Study Design: Retrospective study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database. We compared breast cancer stage at diagnosis and treatment among women with disabilities enrolled in Medicare managed care versus fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare. Women enrolled in FFS Medicare were classified into levels of healthcare utilization during the 6 to 18 months before breast cancer diagnosis. Methods: Controlling for confounders, we used regression models to determine the effects of managed care enrollment and healthcare utilization level on earlier stage at diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Results: Disabled patients enrolled in FFS Medicare without contact with the healthcare system and those with fewer than 12 physician visits during the 6 to 18 months before breast cancer diagnosis were more likely than disabled patients enrolled in Medicare managed care to be diagnosed as having breast cancer at a late stage. There was no difference between women enrolled in Medicare managed care versus women enrolled in FFS Medicare having at least 12 physician visits during the 12-month period. Breast cancer treatment for women with disabilities did not vary across managed care enrollment or healthcare utilization level. Conclusion: Managed care enrollment or increased contact with healthcare providers could result in earlier stage at breast cancer diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)514-520
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Managed Care
Volume14
Issue number8
StatePublished - Aug 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Policy

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