The association between physician reimbursement in the US and use of hematopoietic colony stimulating factors as adjunct therapy for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia: Results from the 1997 American Society of Clinical Oncology survey

Background/objectives: Financial considerations play an important role in the delivery of medical care in the US. In 1996, revised guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) indicated that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were unlikely to be harmful for older acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and suggested that physicians could consider their use in this setting. In 1997, the ASCO health services research committee evaluated whether physician reimbursement was a primary determinant in the decision to use G-CSF and GM-CSF in this clinical situation. Patients and methods: A questionnaire describing clinical scenarios for a 67-year-old man with newly diagnosed de novo AML was mailed to 1500 ASCO members who practiced medical oncology and hematology. Physicians were queried about their preferences for adjunctive CSF use following induction and consolidation chemotherapy. Results: Of 1020 potentially eligible respondents, returned surveys were received from 672. Following induction chemotherapy, support for CSF use was 40%, similar in magnitude for that for non-use of these agents. The most important determinant of support for CSF use was being in a fee-for-service practice (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Physicians in the US are mixed in their support for CSFs for older AML patients. Support was high in settings where CSF use was accompanied by financial profit to the physician practice, and support was low otherwise.