Implications of evolving delivery system reforms for prostate cancer care.
OBJECTIVE
Prostate cancer treatment is a significant source of morbidity and healthcare spending. Evolving clinical data have supported expanding surveillance as a means to "right-size" treatment. Integrated delivery systems afford the possibility of hastening this objective.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries.


METHODS
We used a 20% sample of national Medicare claims to assess the impact of healthcare integration on rates of treatment and potential overtreatment in men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2007 and 2011. Rates were measured according to the extent of integration within a market (ie, none, low, intermediate, and high). Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the relationship between integration and utilization, adjusting for confounders.


RESULTS
Rates of treatment declined across all markets (P <.01 for overall time trend), but the rate of decline was similar for the 4 market types (P = .27). In the most integrated markets, the rate decreased by 28.8%, or from 55.5 per 10,000 population in 2007 to 39.5 per 10,000 in 2011. After adjusting for confounders, men residing in the most integrated markets were 2.1% less likely to be treated with curative intent compared with those living in areas without integrated delivery systems (P = .04). However, rates of potential overtreatment were similar across all markets regardless of the level of integration (P = .21).


CONCLUSIONS
Healthcare integration was associated with small declines in prostate cancer treatment in newly diagnosed men, but not with potential overtreatment. Integrated care alone may be insufficient to curtail potential overtreatment of prostate cancer.
Dow Division of Health Services Research, Department of Urology, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Rd, NCRC Bldg 16, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800. E-mail: bhollen@umich.edu.
Brent K
BK
Hollenbeck
Maggie J
MJ
Bierlein
Samuel R
SR
Kaufman
Lindsey
L
Herrel
Ted A
TA
Skolarus
David C
DC
Miller
Vahakn B
VB
Shahinian
D060866:Accountable Care Organizations; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000069342:Medical Overuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006278:Medicare; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
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