Yamini Kalidindi, MHA

Differences in cancer care spending and utilization between Medicare beneficiaries receiving chemotherapy in hospital outpatient departments versus physician offices vary by service type.

Our study provides the first evidence on site-specific Medicare spending on chemotherapy adjusting for patient comorbid illnesses, cancer type, and other cancer-related risks.

Spending on chemotherapy drugs was lower among Medicare beneficiaries who received chemotherapy in hospital outpatient departments than among comparable beneficiaries receiving chemotherapy in physician offices.