Oncologist consideration of patient health insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs for genomic testing in treatment decision.

Abstract

6600 Background: Use of genomic testing, especially multi-marker tumor panels, is increasing in the United States. Not all tests and related treatments are covered by health insurance, which can result in substantial patient out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. Although most patients are concerned about OOP costs, little is known about oncologists’ treatment decisions with respect to patient health insurance coverage and OOP costs for genomic testing. Methods: We identified 1,049 oncologists who reported using multi-marker tumor panels from the 2017 National Survey of Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment. Separate multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations of oncologist, practice, and patient characteristics and the oncologist ratings of the importance of health insurance coverage and OOP cost for genomic testing as part of treatment decisions. Results: Among oncologists, 47.3%, 32.7% and 20.0% reported that patient insurance coverage for genomic testing was very important, somewhat important, and a little/not important, respectively, in treatment decisions. 56.9%, 28.0%, and 15.2% reported patient OOP costs for genomic testing were very, somewhat, or a little/not important in treatment decisions, respectively. In adjusted ordinal logistic regression analyses, oncologists who used next-generation gene sequencing tests were more likely to report patient health insurance and OOP costs for testing as important (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2, 3.5) and (OR = 2.1; 95%CI: 1.2, 3.7), respectively) in treatment decisions. Oncologists with more years of experience, who treated solid tumors (rather than only hematological cancers), worked in practices without molecular tumor boards for genomic tests, and with higher percentages of patients insured by Medicaid or self-paid/uninsured also reported insurance coverage or OOP costs for testing were important in treatment decisions (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Physician, practice, and patient characteristics were associated with oncologists’ ratings of the importance of patient health insurance and OOP costs in treatment decisions. Identifying factors that influence physicians’ priorities in treatment decisions may inform the development and targeting of interventions to support patient and physician discussions about oncology care.