Cost of care for early- and late-stage oral and pharyngeal cancer in the California Medicaid population.

Abstract

This study documents the direct medical costs associated with treating oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as early- or late-stage disease according to the current standard of care. This retrospective analysis of California Medicaid claims data calculated direct payments for patients diagnosed with OSCC. Patients were defined as being treated for early- or late-stage disease based on treatment modality. Regression determined significant predictors of year-1 cost of care following diagnosis. Median year-1 cost of care following initial diagnosis was $25,319 for the 229 patients identified. Regression results determined that treatment modality and medical comorbidities were significant in predicting costs (p < .05). Costs for patients treated as having early-stage OSCC were approximately 36% less than for those treated as having late-stage disease (p = .002). Treatment for OSCC is a significant cost from Medicaid's perspective, and these data suggest early detection may ease its economic burden.