Is Fragmented Cancer Care Associated With Medical Expenditure? Nationwide Evidence From Patients With Lung Cancer Using National Insurance Claim Data

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between fragmented cancer care in early phase after diagnosis and patient outcomes using national insurance claim data. Methods: identified National Health Insurance beneficiaries diagnosed with lung South Korea from 2010 2014. included 1,364 patients reduced immortal time bias heterogeneity. performed multiple regression analysis a generalized estimate equation gamma distribution for medical expenditures. Results: Among cancer, 12.8% had care. Healthcare costs were higher both during 365 days 1,825 days. Linear results showed that was associated 1.162 times period 1.163 cost Conclusion: found is expenditure. Future health policy should consider limitation of patients’ free will when opting care, as there are currently no control mechanisms.