Date of Award
Spring 3-2017
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Abstract
This investigation explores whether private insurance policies decrease access to Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) as compared to Medicare for intact breast treatments at XYZ Cancer Center (XYZ). An examination of treatment charts was carried out on new intact breast patients at XYZ over a one-month period to compare the number of IMRT prescriptions as a function of Medicare or private insurance policies. A survey of physicians who treat breast cancer patients at XYZ was made to discover how physician use of IMRT is affected by insurance policies. The review of breast cancer patient charts in the sample period showed private insurers permitted slightly fewer IMRT prescriptions than Medicare (3/18 vs. 4/14). This result was consistent with another finding that 3 IMRT prescriptions results when both IMRT and private insurance policies were independently applied to the 18 privately insured patients. The physician survey showed both Medicare and private insurer policies hinder their use of IMRT. New internal policies for IMRT use are recommended to replace insurer policies, which are anticipated to be lost with changes in healthcare payment models.
Recommended Citation
Bareng, Jonathan, "Breast IMRT Payment Policies: Effort to Increase Access to Quality Care" (2017). EMPA Capstones. 30.
https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/capstones/30