Study Finds Medicare Advantage Patients Face Longer, Costlier Radiotherapy Than Traditional Medicare

A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study reveals notable differences in radiotherapy treatment costs and durations between Traditional Medicare (TM) and Medicare Advantage (MA) patients.

Analyzing 2018 insurance claims for patients aged 65 and older across 15 common cancers, the study evaluated 31,563 radiation treatment episodes over 90 days. Findings show that MA patients underwent radiation therapy for about 10% longer durations and incurred approximately 4% higher treatment costs compared to TM patients.

Additionally, MA enrollees were less likely to receive advanced radiation therapies such as proton and stereotactic radiotherapy. As Medicare Advantage enrollment now exceeds 50% of beneficiaries, understanding these discrepancies is critical for insurers, providers, and policymakers. The research highlights the need for further investigation into how these variations impact clinical outcomes, including patient quality of life and survival.

These insights hold significance for regulatory compliance, payer-provider dynamics, and resource allocation in oncology care under differing Medicare structures.