Size, Location, Affiliation of Practice Impact Immunotherapy Adoption Rates
Source: Targeted Oncology, June 2023
According to an analysis of Medicare fee-for- service beneficiaries treated with chemotherapy between 2010 and 2017, the speed at which immunotherapy is adopted by oncology practices depends on their size, location, and affiliation (rural or urban, independent or health system–affiliated, academic or nonacademic, smaller or larger [1 to 5 physicians vs 6 or more]).
Investigators analyzed 71,659 chemotherapy episodes compiled from 1732 oncology practices, 264 (15%) of which were located in a rural area, 900 (52%) of which were independent, and 492 (28%) of which had 1 to 5 physicians. Immunotherapy had been adopted within 2 years of FDA approval, but researchers found a wide variation in adoption rates.
“Adoption tends to be slow and uneven across different practices or different geographic areas,” lead author Caitlin E. Carroll, PhD, assistant professor, Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, in Minneapolis, said during an interview with Targeted Therapies in Oncology.