Chapter 2: Changes in US Oncology Drug Reimbursement: Medicare Sets the Pace

Changes in US oncology drug reimbursement: Medicare sets the pace Cancer has a higher profile than almost any other disease. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 10.1 million US residents have been diagnosed with cancer at some time in their lives, and approximately 1.4 million US residents were expected to be diagnosed with some form of cancer in 2006. The lifetime risk of developing cancer is 1 in 2 for US men and 1 in 3 for US women. Cancer is also the second most common cause of death in the United States (after coronary heart disease), accounting for one-quarter of all deaths. The ACS forecasted that 564,830 US residents will die from cancer in 2006 (American Cancer Society, 2006). Providing access to effective cancer therapies is a public health priority, but oncology drugs can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year. Because of the rarity of certain ...

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