title: Trends in the Cost and Use of Targeted Cancer Therapies for the Privately Insured Nonelderly: 2001 to 2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to define and identify drivers of trends in cost and use of targeted therapeutics among privately insured nonelderly patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy between 2001 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  We classified oncology drugs as targeted oral anticancer medications, targeted intravenous anticancer medications, and all others. Using the LifeLink Health Plan Claims Database, we studied and disaggregated trends in use and in insurance and out-of-pocket payments per patient per month and during the first year of chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a large increase in the use of targeted intravenous anticancer medications and a gradual increase in targeted oral anticancer medications; targeted therapies accounted for 63% of all chemotherapy expenditures in 2011. Insurance payments per patient per month and in the first year of chemotherapy for targeted oral anticancer medications more than doubled in 10 years, surpassing payments for targeted intravenous anticancer medications, which remained fairly constant throughout. Substitution toward targeted therapies and growth in drug prices both at launch and postlaunch contributed to payer spending growth. Out-of-pocket spending for targeted oral anticancer medications was ≤ half of the amount for targeted intravenous anticancer medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeted therapies now dominate anticancer drug spending. More aggressive management of pharmacy benefits for targeted oral anticancer medications and payment reform for injectable drugs hold promise. Restraining the rapid rise in spending will require more than current oral drug parity laws, such as value-based insurance that makes the benefits and costs transparent and involves the patient directly in the choice of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Ya-Chen Tina Shih, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Fabrice Smieliauskas, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Daniel M. Geynisman, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Ronan J. Kelly and Thomas J. Smith, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. yashih@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Ya-Chen Tina
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Ya-Chen Tina Shih, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Fabrice Smieliauskas, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Daniel M. Geynisman, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Ronan J. Kelly and Thomas J. Smith, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smieliauskas
authors.affiliation: Ya-Chen Tina Shih, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Fabrice Smieliauskas, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Daniel M. Geynisman, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Ronan J. Kelly and Thomas J. Smith, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Geynisman
authors.affiliation: Ya-Chen Tina Shih, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Fabrice Smieliauskas, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Daniel M. Geynisman, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Ronan J. Kelly and Thomas J. Smith, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Ronan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Ya-Chen Tina Shih, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Fabrice Smieliauskas, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Daniel M. Geynisman, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Ronan J. Kelly and Thomas J. Smith, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents