Journal
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
Volume 33, Issue 19, Pages 2190-U232Publisher
AMER SOC CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2014.58.2320
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Funding
- AHRQ HHS [R01 HS020263, R01 HS018535] Funding Source: Medline
- NCATS NIH HHS [UL1 TR000430] Funding Source: Medline
- NCI NIH HHS [R01 CA177562] Funding Source: Medline
- NINR NIH HHS [NR014050, R01 NR014050] Funding Source: Medline
- PHS HHS [P30006979] Funding Source: Medline
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Purpose This study sought to define and identify drivers of trends in cost and use of targeted therapeutics among privately insured nonelderly patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy between 2001 and 2011. Methods We classified oncology drugs as targeted oral anticancer medications, targeted intravenous anticancer medications, and all others. Using the LifeLink Health Plan Claims Database, we studied and disaggregated trends in use and in insurance and out-of-pocket payments per patient per month and during the first year of chemotherapy. Results We found a large increase in the use of targeted intravenous anticancer medications and a gradual increase in targeted oral anticancer medications; targeted therapies accounted for 63% of all chemotherapy expenditures in 2011. Insurance payments per patient per month and in the first year of chemotherapy for targeted oral anticancer medications more than doubled in 10 years, surpassing payments for targeted intravenous anticancer medications, which remained fairly constant throughout. Substitution toward targeted therapies and growth in drug prices both at launch and postlaunch contributed to payer spending growth. Out-of-pocket spending for targeted oral anticancer medications was half of the amount for targeted intravenous anticancer medications. Conclusion Targeted therapies now dominate anticancer drug spending. More aggressive management of pharmacy benefits for targeted oral anticancer medications and payment reform for injectable drugs hold promise. Restraining the rapid rise in spending will require more than current oral drug parity laws, such as value-based insurance that makes the benefits and costs transparent and involves the patient directly in the choice of treatment.
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