Lung cancer: a cost and outcome study based on physician practice patterns.

Chemotherapy is now an acceptable treatment for selected patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. With the wide assortment of cytotoxic and supportive-care drugs, there are opportunities for assessing the value of various treatment approaches. This study was undertaken to assess variations in treatment patterns in a large oncology group with emphasis on costs incurred and survival. A total of 1,215 patients seen in 1996 by Medical Oncologists (a community-based private practice) were identified as new lung cancer patients by review of billing data. Of these, 858 received chemotherapy and were evaluated for charges. Three hundred were evaluated for charges, hospice care, and survival. Differences in practice patterns for physicians and the causes of those differences were assessed. Differences in survival, charges, and hospice care for those patients who were seen by high-charge and low-charge physicians were measured. Clear differences emerged in practice patterns for these Medical Oncologists. Higher ch...