New Data Highlighting Possible Impact of ESA Reimbursement Policies on Patient Care, Nation's Blood Supply, to be Presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annu...( BRIDGEWATER N.J. May 16 /- Data f...),Health

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Data from three studies evaluating associations between lower mean baseline hemoglobin (Hb) levels and the rate of blood transfusions, as well as the possible effect of restrictions on reimbursement for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in Medicare patients on the nation's blood supply, will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting later this month. The meeting will take place in Chicago from May 30 to June 3, 2008.

Data from the following studies will be presented:

Transfusion Outcomes in Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA)-Treated Cancer Chemotherapy Patients Based on Achieved Hemoglobin (Hb) Levels

Kay Larholt, Sc.D., Abt Associates, Lexington, MA

Presentation: Health Svcs Research, Sunday, June 1, 2008; 8:00am - 12:00pm CST, S Hall A1

Abstract Number: 6637

Last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a National Coverage Determination (NCD) largely eliminating coverage for non-renal ESA administration when patients have hemoglobin concentrations above 10 grams per deciliter of blood (g/dL). This study assessed the potential clinical implications of these policy changes by evaluating data from an ongoing prospective registry of ESA-treated patients in 55 U.S. oncology clinics between December 2003 and November 2007. Data were analyzed from 330 adult chemotherapy-treated oncology patients who had hemoglobin concentrations less than 10 g/dL prior to ESA administration and received two or more ESA doses. Transfusion-related outcomes were categorized based on mean Hb values achieved during ESA treatment into three cohorts: mean achieved Hb between 9.1 g/dL and 10 g/dL, between 10.1 g/dL and 11 g/dL, or between 11.1 g/dL and 12 g/dL.

Hematologic and Transfusion Outcomes Following Implementation of the Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA) National Coverage Determination (NCD) in Medicare Cance
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