Findings from University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Yields New Data on Cancer (Cancer History, Insurance Coverage, and Cost-related Medication Nonadherence In Medicare Beneficiaries, 2013-2018): Cancer

Health Policy and Law Daily

2022 MAR 03 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health Policy and Law Daily -- Current study results on Cancer have been published. According to news reporting from Houston, Texas, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Cancer survivors are at risk of financial hardships and cost-related medication nonadherence, particularly among those without adequate insurance coverage. To examine the association between cancer history and cost-related medication nonadherence, as well as the association between insurance coverage and nonadherence among Medicare beneficiaries.”

Financial support for this research came from NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI).

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, “We used the 2013-2018 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Public Use File, a survey on the health, health service utilization, access to care, and satisfaction among a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Cost-related medication nonadherence was defined as often or sometimes reporting any of the following: (1) took smaller dose of medication, (2) skipped doses to make medication last, (3) delayed medication because of cost, and (4) not get medication because of cost. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of cost-related nonadherence associated with cancer history, adjusting for survey year and sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, including age, sex, race and ethnicity, highest grade completed, income level, marital status, and number of chronic conditions. We also included Medicare Part D, an interaction between Part D and the low-income subsidy, and Medicare Advantage in the model to examine the effect of insurance coverage on cost-related nonadherence. From 2013 to 2018, there were 12,492 cancer survivors and 53,262 respondents without a history of cancer in our sample, and 16.5% reported cost-related medication nonadherence. After adjusting for characteristics of the respondents, cancer survivors were more likely than those without a history of cancer to report cost-related medication nonadherence (adjusted OR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.02-1.19). Having unsubsidized Part DPart D without the low-income subsidy-was associated with a greater likelihood of reporting cost-related medication nonadherence (adjusted OR = 1.63, 95% CI= 1.49-1.78), while having subsidized Part D was not (adjusted OR= 0.96; 95% CI = 0.85-1.08). Finally, being on Medicare Advantage was associated with lower likelihood of reporting cost-related nonadherence compared with traditional feefor-service Medicare (adjusted OR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.80-0.92).”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Expanding the low-income subsidy and capping out-of-pocket drug expenditure can be effective policy options to reduce cost-sharing burden and cost-related nonadherence.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Cancer History, Insurance Coverage, and Cost-related Medication Nonadherence In Medicare Beneficiaries, 2013-2018. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 2021;27(12):1750-1756. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy can be contacted at: Acad Managed Care Pharmacy, 100 N Pitt St, 400, Alexandria, VA 22314-3134, USA.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Meng Li, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dept. of Health Services Research, Houston, TX 77030, United States.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.27.12.1750. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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