Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Physician allocation of Medicare resources for patients with advanced cancer.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rocke, DJ; Lee, WT; Beumer, HW; Taylor, DH; Schulz, K; Thomas, S; Puscas, L
Published in: J Palliat Med
August 2013

BACKGROUND: Little is known about what patients and physicians value in end-of-life care, or how these groups would craft a health plan for those with advanced cancer. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to assess how otolaryngology, head and neck surgery (OHNS) physicians would structure a Medicare benefit plan for patients with advanced cancer, and to compare this with cancer patient and cancer patient caregiver preferences. DESIGN: OHNS physicians used an online version of a validated tool for assessing preferences for health plans in the setting of limited resources. These data were compared to cancer patient and caregiver preferences. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: OHNS physicians nationwide were assessed with comparison to similar data obtained in a separate study of cancer patients and their caregivers treated at Duke University Medical Center. RESULTS: Otolaryngology physicians (n=767) completed the online assessment and this was compared with data from 146 patients and 114 caregivers. OHNS physician allocations differed significantly in 14 of the 15 benefit categories when compared with patients and caregivers. Physicians elected more coverage in the Advice, Emotional Care, Palliative Care, and Treatment for Cancer benefit categories. Patients and their caregivers elected more coverage in the Cash, Complementary Care, Cosmetic Care, Dental and Vision, Drug Coverage, Home Improvement, House Calls, Nursing Facility, Other Medical Care, and Primary Care benefit categories. CONCLUSIONS: Otolaryngology physicians have significantly different values in end-of-life care than cancer patients and their caregivers. This information is important for efficient allocation of scarce Medicare resources and for effective end-of-life discussions, both of which are key for developing appropriate health policy.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

J Palliat Med

DOI

EISSN

1557-7740

Publication Date

August 2013

Volume

16

Issue

8

Start / End Page

857 / 866

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workforce
  • United States
  • Terminally Ill
  • Resource Allocation
  • Patient Preference
  • Palliative Care
  • Otolaryngology
  • North Carolina
  • Neoplasms
  • Middle Aged
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Rocke, D. J., Lee, W. T., Beumer, H. W., Taylor, D. H., Schulz, K., Thomas, S., & Puscas, L. (2013). Physician allocation of Medicare resources for patients with advanced cancer. J Palliat Med, 16(8), 857–866. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2012.0636
Rocke, Daniel J., Walter T. Lee, Halton W. Beumer, Donald H. Taylor, Kristine Schulz, Steven Thomas, and Liana Puscas. “Physician allocation of Medicare resources for patients with advanced cancer.J Palliat Med 16, no. 8 (August 2013): 857–66. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2012.0636.
Rocke DJ, Lee WT, Beumer HW, Taylor DH, Schulz K, Thomas S, et al. Physician allocation of Medicare resources for patients with advanced cancer. J Palliat Med. 2013 Aug;16(8):857–66.
Rocke, Daniel J., et al. “Physician allocation of Medicare resources for patients with advanced cancer.J Palliat Med, vol. 16, no. 8, Aug. 2013, pp. 857–66. Pubmed, doi:10.1089/jpm.2012.0636.
Rocke DJ, Lee WT, Beumer HW, Taylor DH, Schulz K, Thomas S, Puscas L. Physician allocation of Medicare resources for patients with advanced cancer. J Palliat Med. 2013 Aug;16(8):857–866.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Palliat Med

DOI

EISSN

1557-7740

Publication Date

August 2013

Volume

16

Issue

8

Start / End Page

857 / 866

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workforce
  • United States
  • Terminally Ill
  • Resource Allocation
  • Patient Preference
  • Palliative Care
  • Otolaryngology
  • North Carolina
  • Neoplasms
  • Middle Aged