A study by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found differences in Medicare cancer spending by region did not correlate to survival rates.
Researchers examined Medicare spending from 2002 to 2007 on 100,000 beneficiaries with advanced-stage cancers, finding a 32 percent span in spending by region among patients who lived, and a 41 percent variance among those who died.
The study's authors suggested physicians should give greater consideration to palliative care for these patients. Medicare spends approximately 10 percent of its payments on cancer care, according to the study.
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Researchers examined Medicare spending from 2002 to 2007 on 100,000 beneficiaries with advanced-stage cancers, finding a 32 percent span in spending by region among patients who lived, and a 41 percent variance among those who died.
The study's authors suggested physicians should give greater consideration to palliative care for these patients. Medicare spends approximately 10 percent of its payments on cancer care, according to the study.
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