Access to a regular medical provider among head and neck cancer survivors

Background Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are at risk for limited healthcare access. Methods Individuals reporting a history of cancer were identified from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, an annual assessment of the nation's health. Access to care variables were compared between HNC and other cancer using multivariable methods and stratified by age 65. Results From 1998 to 2015, 420 patients with HNC and 14 468 with other cancers completed the survey. Among patients with HNC, 10.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.0-15.9) lacked a regular provider, compared to 6.1% (95% CI 5.5-6.6) of other cancer survivors. Ten percent of HNC survivors lacked a regular provider and 14.6% report barriers to needed care. For those 65 years and older, HNC was associated with lacking a regular provider (adjusted odds ratio 2.58, 95% CI 1.15-5.80). Conclusion HNC was associated with lack of a regular care provider after age 65, which may result in substandard survivorship care.