Problem
In cancer care, patients are paying more and getting less. Spending for oncology services is increasing by over 15% annually, faster than the background growth in overall expenditures. Next-generation “precision-therapies” carry the promise of identifying and targeting specific molecular alterations in cancer cells, but many also carry extremely high price tags – some reaching six- and even seven-figures. Expensive technologies like robot-assisted surgery have become ubiquitous, alongside molecular diagnostic tests and advanced imaging modalities. Despite this influx of resources and expensive new technological advances, the death rate from the most common cancers has only slightly declined. This has led some researchers to state that we face a “value crisis” in oncology.
Approach
This program aims to improve the value and effectiveness of cancer care by identifying drivers of high and low-value care. We focus on policy and health systems-based changes to better understand how to improve access to high-quality cancer care that makes a difference, including: screening, vaccinations, tobacco cessation, appropriate genetic testing and more, while protecting patients against high cost-sharing requirements.
Impact
Our work touches on a variety of topics with key relevance to today’s pressing questions in health policy. By drawing on our expertise in big data analysis, we provide insights on how policy changes may impact patients. As the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was being debated in Congress, we published research assessing how the ACA impacted cancer screening and detection of early stage cancers. As states took Medicaid expansion to the ballot box, we provided valuable insights into the role of Medicaid expansion on utilization of surgical care and cancer screening.
Other work focuses on nationwide patterns of self-reported prostate-specific antigen screening; racial differences in the surgical care of patients with prostate cancer; effects of androgen-deprivation therapy; changes in low value care with the adoption of alternative payment models, variations in costs, and the impact of technological advances in cancer care.
The impact has already been realized: our work was cited in a 2016 Medicare rule change regarding payments for robotic surgery and has been featured in high impact journals including JAMA, JAMA Oncology, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Because many of our research topics have key pertinence to issues of public policy, we have also published academic work targeted specifically at the lay public, including articles in STAT Opinion and The Boston Globe.

Quoc-Dien Trinh, MD
Lead Faculty | Cancer and Comparative Effectiveness

Steven L. Chang, MD, MS
Lead Faculty | Cancer and Comparative Effectiveness

Nelya Melnitchouk, MD, MSc
Lead Facuty | Cancer and Comparative Effectiveness
Affiliate Faculty
Matthew Mossanen, MD
Staff
Senior Project Manager – Junaid Nabi, MD
Maya Marchese, MS
Fellows
Pamela Lu, MD
Marco Paciotti, MD
Daniele Modonutti, MD
Lorine Hauser, MD
Eugene Cone, MD
Analysis of impact of high-volume hospitals on overall survival (for patients with metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma)
Comparison of overall survial of patients with prostate cancer undergoing either radiation therapy or surgery
Impact of adjucant chemotherapy in patients with bladder cancer with variant histology
Comparison of different approaches performing prostata biopsies
Impact of Accountable Care Organizations on Cancer Screening and Costs of Cancer Care
Insurance Sensitivity of Major Cancers in the United States
Impact of MRI on Surgical Outcomes in Prostate Cancer Care
Screening and Preventive Health Care Behaviors in Cancer Survivors
Can Equal Access Health Care reduce Racial Disparities in Cancer Care
Does the Hospital Matter: Impact of Hospital Characteristics on Readmission Rates
Surgeon and Hospital Level Variations in Costs of Care for Prostate and Bladder Cancer
Outcomes for Bladder and Prostate Cancer Patients at Minority Serving Hospitals
Receipt of Non-Indicated Cancer Surgery in a Large National Sample
Side of Effects of Testosterone Therapy in Men with Hypogonadism