Open AccessWhat Is the Value of Undergoing Surgery for Spinal Metastases at Dedicated Cancer Centers?
Author(s) -
Azeem Tariq Malik,
Safdar N. Khan,
Ryan T. Voskuil,
John H. Alexander,
Joseph P. Drain,
Thomas Scharschmidt
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical orthopaedics and related research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.178
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1528-1132
pISSN - 0009-921X
DOI - 10.1097/corr.0000000000001640
Subject(s) - medicine , reimbursement , cancer , cohort , decompression , surgery , health care , general surgery , emergency medicine , economics , economic growth
The Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers is an organization of 11 leading cancer institutions and affiliated hospitals that are exempt from the Medicare prospective system hospital reimbursement policies. Because of their focus on cancer care and participation in innovative cancer treatment methods and protocols, these hospitals are reimbursed based on their actual billings. The perceived lack of incentive to meet a predetermined target price and reduce costs has spurred criticism of the value of cancer care at these institutions. The rationale of our study was to better understand whether dedicated cancer centers (DCCs) deliver high-value care for patients undergoing surgical treatment of spinal metastases.