Specific cost drivers should be considered when developing breast, lung, and/or colorectal cancer value-based reimbursement models, according to an analysis involving claims data from nearly 9,800 insurance beneficiaries. Commercially-insured participants with either breast, lung, or colorectal cancer had initial chemotherapy in 2014 or 2015. Investigators looked at the impact of key factors on cost. Among the results:

• Metastasis, facility provider affiliation, episode risk group risk score, and radiation were found to be significant cost drivers in all 3 cancer types.
• Younger age and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 oncogene overexpression-directed therapy significantly impacted breast cancer costs.
• Younger age and female gender significantly drove colorectal cancer costs.
• Metastasis was linked with 50% more hospital admissions and increased hospital length of stay for all 3 cancer types.
• Chemotherapy and supportive drug therapies comprised the highest proportion of total cost.