Geographic Variation in the Utilization of Services Surrounding Lung Cancer Resection

As value-based care models continue to gain emphasis, along with the need for improved profiling across the continuum of lung cancer care, a better understanding of geographic variation in utilization of services surrounding episodes of care is needed.

In this retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing lung cancer resection from 2017 to 2019, we examined geographic variation in utilization of services surrounding episodes of lung cancer resection. We utilized hierarchical logistic regression models to determine risk-adjusted utilization of services. This study utilized inpatient and ambulatory databases across 4 states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland. All patients undergoing lung cancer resection were included. The primary outcome was risk-adjusted utilization of services.

Mean risk-adjusted utilization of ambulatory procedures across all hospital referral regions (HRRs) was 34.1% (95% CI 30.7%-37.6%), while the individual HRR utilization varied from 10.9% to 54.9% (P < .01). Mean risk-adjusted utilization of inpatient admissions in the 6 months prior to surgery was 15.3% (95% CI 13.9%-16.7%), ranging from 7.4% to 24.7% (P = .07) across HRRs. Finally, mean risk-adjusted utilization of inpatient hospitalizations in the 6 months following surgery was 19.4% (95% CI 17.7-21.0%), ranging from 10.0% to 33.6% (P = .19) across HRRs.

Overall, we observed that utilization of ambulatory services varied significantly across HRRs, while inpatient utilization did not demonstrate significant variation. Given these findings, there may be geographic drivers of variation in the utilization of services surrounding lung cancer resection.