Oral Oncology Proportion of Days Covered Study

This technical report presents a study on the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) for oral antineoplastic medications and its associations with medical costs and hospitalization among Medicare patients. The study utilized MarketScan databases from 2018 to 2020, focusing on patients aged 65 and older who were prescribed non-cycled oral antineoplastic therapies. The objective was to investigate the relationship between adherence to PDC (≥80%) and health outcomes, including total medical costs, hospitalizations, and length of stay (LOS). Results indicated that adherence was associated with lower medical costs and fewer hospitalizations. The report details the methodology, including the criteria for patient inclusion and exclusion, and presents statistical analyses of the data collected. Key findings include significant interactions between adherence and various demographic factors, such as age and comorbidities, which influenced hospitalization rates and LOS. The findings validate the PDC methodology and suggest its utility for annual reporting in oncology care.