The use of home care by cancer patients: a multivariate analysis

The use of home care by cancer patients over the course of a year was analyzed using a two-part model that estimated: (1) the probability of any use, and (2) the quantity of visits given some use. The findings support the use of a two-stage model for estimating home care over single equation approaches. We found that while HMO membership increased the probability of some home care for cancer, it resulted in a smaller number of visits given some use. Health care coverage was also found to have different effects on these two components of total use. Some implications of some of these findings for future policies are discussed.