Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34667003›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

Retrospective analysis of characteristics associated with higher-value radiotherapy episodes of care for bone metastases in Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.

Deborah Marshall, Melissa D Aldridge, Kavita Dharmarajan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 77% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Deborah MarshallDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA deborah.marshall@mountsinai.org.ORCID 0000-0002-6675-7482
Melissa D AldridgeDepartment of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Kavita DharmarajanDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · US

Funding

Residing in the Community with Dementia at the End of Life: Understanding Hospice Use and Residential SettingP30AG028741 · NIA · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI ORNA INTRATOR · 2010 to 2026
$21.9M
Unnecessary and Harmful Medication Use in Older Adults with DementiaP01AG066605 · NIA · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI Alexander Keliimoeanu Smith · 2020 to 2026
$17.7M
Training Program in Cancer Prevention and Control for Priority PopulationsT32CA225617 · NCI · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI Guy H Montgomery, JUAN P WISNIVESKY · 2018 to 2026
$2.6M
Improving Outcomes for Older Adults Undergoing Palliative Radiation TreatmentK76AG068516 · NIA · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI DHARMARAJAN, KAVITA VYAS · 2021 to 2025
$1.2M
NCI NIH HHS T32 CA225617NIA NIH HHS K76 AG068516NIA NIH HHS P01 AG066605NIA NIH HHS P30 AG028741
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' newly enacted Radiation Oncology Model ('RO Model') was designed to test the cost-saving potential of prospective episode-based payments for radiation treatment for 17 cancer diagnoses by encouraging high-value care and more efficient care delivery. For bone metastases, evidence supports the use of higher-value, shorter courses of radiation (≤10 fractions). Our goal was to determine the prevalence of short radiation courses (≤10 fractions) for bone metastases and the setting, treatment and patient characteristics associated with such courses and their expenditures.

designUsing the RO Model episode file, we evaluated receipt of ≤10 fractions of radiotherapy for bone metastases and expenditures by treatment setting for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries during calendar years 2015-2017.Using unadjusted and adjusted regression models, we determined predictors of receipt of ≤10 fractions and expenditures. Multivariable models adjusted for treatment and patient characteristics.

resultsThere were 48 810 episodes for bone metastases during the period. A majority of episodes for ≤10 fractions occurred in hospital-outpatient settings (62.8% (N=22 715)). After adjusting for treatment and patient factors, hospital-outpatient treatment setting remained a significant predictor of receiving ≤10 fractions (adjusted OR 2.03 (95% CI 1.95, 2.12; p<0.001) vs free-standing). The greatest adjusted contributors to total expenditures were number of fractions (US$-3424 (95% CI US$-3412 to US$-3435) for ≤10 fractions vs >10; p<0.001) and treatment type (including US$7716 (95% CI US$7424 to US$8018) for intensity modulated radiation therapy vs conventional external beam; p<0.001).

conclusionsA measurable performance gap exists for delivery of higher-value bone metastases radiotherapy under an episode-based model, associated with increased expenditures. The RO Model may succeed in improving the value of bone metastases radiation. Increasing the capacity of free-standing centres to implement palliative-focused services may improve the ability of these practices to succeed under the RO Model.

Indexed as

Radiation OncologyAgedEpisode of CareFee-for-Service PlansHealth ExpendituresHumansMedicareProspective StudiesRetrospective StudiesUnited Stateshealth policyoncologypalliative careradiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID34667003
PMCPMC8527129
OpenAlexW3207488060

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.