Background
Despite substantially improved survival with metastatic site resection in colorectal cancers, uptake of aggressive surgical approaches remains low among certain patients. It is unknown whether financial determinants of care, such as insurance status, play a role in this treatment gap.
Objective
We sought to evaluate the effect of insurance status on metastasectomy in patients with advanced colorectal cancers.
Methods
Using the National Cancer Data Base Participant User File, incident cases of colorectal cancer metastatic to the lung and/or liver with diagnosis from 2010 – 2013, were identified. Controlling for patient, tumor, and hospital characteristics, hierarchical regression was used to examine associations between hospital payer mix and metastatic site resection.
Results
We identified 42,300 patients in our cohort with mean age 64 years. Metastatic site resection occurred in 12.3% of all patients. Adjusting for patient and hospital fixed effects, we found that patients who were uninsured or on Medicaid were 38% less likely to undergo metastasectomy (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.56 – 0.66). Patients in hospitals treating a high percentage of uninsured or Medicaid patients were less likely to undergo metastasectomy, even after controlling for individual patient insurance status.
Limitations
The study was limited by its retrospective design and the granularity and accuracy of the National Cancer Data Base.
Conclusion
Differences in insurance status and hospital payer mix are associated with differences in rates of metastatic site resection in patients with colorectal cancer that is metastatic to the lung and/or liver. There is a need for improved access to metastatic site resection for individual patients who are uninsured or who have Medicaid insurance, and for all patients who seek care at hospitals treating a large proportion of uninsured or Medicaid patients. Remedies for individual patients could include improved access to private insurance through employment or individual plans or improved reimbursement from Medicaid for this procedure. Strategies for patients at low-performing hospitals include selective referral to centers that perform mestastectomy more frequently when appropriate.