High rates of postoperative radiotherapy delay in head and neck cancer before and after Medicaid expansion
Head & Neck May 28, 2021
Pang J, Faraji F, Risa E, et al. - Researchers conducted the study for analyzing the impact of Medicaid expansion on postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) delay in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Patients from the National Cancer Database with HNSCC who underwent curative‐intent surgery in the 2 years preceding and following Medicaid expansion were studied (n = 11,717) using the difference‐in‐differences technique to study the effect on PORT delay. Before and after expansion, the rate of PORT delay was 66.0% and 66.9%, respectively. Medicaid patients experienced more PORT delays than privately insured patients. Medicaid expansion had no impact on PORT delay. According to supplemental analyses, pathologic stage, number of treating facilities, and comorbidities were among several factors associated with PORT delay in the cohort. Findings suggested that PORT delay is unacceptably frequent. More than Medicaid expansion is required to improve timely adjuvant therapy.
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