Palliative Care for Advanced Cancer in Medicare Advantage and Physician Networks

In this retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with advanced cancer, MA enrollment was associated with increased PC utilization, primarily attributable to differential oncologist network composition. Persistent differences in systemic therapy use and hospice enrollment after matching by treating oncologists suggest that MA plan–level features beyond physician networks and patient characteristics may be associated with these outcomes.

Corresponding Author: Xin Hu, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Emory University, 1365 Clifton Rd NE, C3005, Atlanta, GA 30322 (xin.hu@emory.edu).

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