Disparities in timeliness of care for U.S. Medicare patients diagnosed with cancer | Halpern | Current Oncology

Disparities in timeliness of care for U.S. Medicare patients diagnosed with cancer | Halpern | Current Oncology

5.  CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that multiple factors are associated with disparities in timeliness of care for Medicare enrollees with cancer. Race or ethnicity, dual Medicare–Medicaid status, venue and type of treatment initiation, and stage at diagnosis were all significantly associated with delay in treatment initiation for certain cancer sites. Results from our study accord with studies assessing timeliness of care for individuals diagnosed with cancer in the 1980s and 1990s10,11,13,14 and with a recent hospital registry-based study16. Interventions to address patient, provider, and health system factors that may contribute to delays in care are needed to achieve optimal health outcomes for all cancer patients.