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Background/Aims Estimates of the nation’s costs of cancer care are largely based on the SEER-Medicare datalink supplemented by modeling to estimate costs for non-aged patients. The SEER-Medicare data, however, are missing data on HMO (Medicare Advantage) enrollees with cancer. To address this shortfall, this study estimated the incremental medical care resources used to diagnose and treat cancer within integrated delivery systems stratified by phases of cancer care and patient age—before and after age 65.

Background/Aims The U.S. mammography screening rate is higher than rates of other preventive services among women, perhaps because efforts to encourage regular mammography have been relatively more effective than efforts to encourage other types of preventive care. The purposes of this study were to investigate the rate at which female members of Scott & White Health Plan received mammography without a primary care physician visit, and to identify any short-term health consequences of receiving mammography without other primary care services.

Background Cancer providers strive to deliver high quality care, yet provider-patient communication breakdowns can occur and may contribute to adverse events and errors. A better understanding of cancer providers’ perceptions of communication breakdowns could improve patient and provider satisfaction and patient safety. This study investigated providers’ attitudes and experiences of communication breakdowns in cancer care.

Background Research suggests physician-patient discussions about colonoscopies may be brief or absent. We sought to investigate men and women’s familiarity and experiences with colonoscopies, and perceived benefits and barriers.

Background/Aims Limited time and competing demands force primary care physicians and patients to prioritize among evidence-based preventive health services during periodic health examinations (PHE). We examined the rate of discussion of and recommendation for 19 USPSTF-endorsed preventive services during PHEs.