Mastectomy Is More Common in Medicaid Patients

However, women with private insurance were more likely to undergo mastectomy for small tumors.

Disparity in breast cancer treatment among certain patient subgroups is well known. But little has been documented regarding surgical management based on patient financial status. Now, investigators have conducted a retrospective study in a single healthcare system in the Midwest to examine the effect of insurance payer type on mastectomy rates in 1539 women with stage I–III breast cancer.

Women on Medicaid were more likely than those with private insurance to undergo mastectomy (60% vs. 39%; P<0.05) and to have larger tumors at diagnosis (3.3 cm vs. 2.1 cm; P<0.05). Increasing tumor size and stage were independent predictors of mastectomy (P<0 .05). Of note, women with private insurance were more likely than those with Medicaid to have mast…

Reviewing Author

Henry Mark Kuerer, MD, PhD, FACS

Disclosures

Speaker's BureauPhysicians’ Education Resource, LLC

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill Professional; UpToDate, Inc.

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Surgical Oncology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Breast Surgeons (Chair, Publications Committee)