OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost and resource utilization in the evaluation,
treatment, and 6-month follow-up of African-American and White men undergoi
ng either external beam radiation therapy (XRT) or radical prostatectomy (R
B) for early-stage prostate cancer.
DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of cost and resource utilization data from e
ncrypted patient-specific hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and phys
ician/supplier data files.
SETTING: National Medicare claims data from 1993 through 1996.
PARTICIPANTS: A random 5% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries from th
e Health Care Financing Administration Public Use Files for 1993 through 19
96.
MEASUREMENTS: Inpatient, outpatient, and physician/ supplier Medicare costs
.
RESULTS: African-American men undergoing RP for early-stage prostate cancer
had significantly higher costs ($21,878 vs $18,786, P < .0001) than did Wh
ite men. Most of the difference occurred in the inpatient setting. African-
American men undergoing XRT had significantly greater costs ($18,131 vs $15
,734, P < .0001) than did White men. Most of this difference was generated
by longer duration of XRT treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: In early-stage prostate cancer, charges for RE and XRT in Afri
can-American men are higher when compared with those for White men.