RT Journal
A1 Henderson LM, MSPH, PhD, Reeder-Hayes K, MD, Hinton S, MPA, Carpenter WR, PhD, Chen RC, MD, MPH
T1 COmparing physician-reported cancer management plans with medicare services received
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD April 23
VO 172
IS 8
SP 664
OP 666
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.271
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.271
AB 
The National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR) was developed to provide evidence on the effectiveness of position emission tomography (PET) in the detection, diagnosis, and clinical management of certain cancers, and has been used to inform Medicare coverage policy for PET.1- 3 The NOPR collects data regarding the intended management strategy reported by physicians before and after PET, with a change in intended management suggesting “added clinical value” from the PET scan.4 The NOPR does not collect data on the management plan actually implemented. To determine whether physician-reported management plans in NOPR reflect actual services received, we compared the physician-reported NOPR management plan with services provided according to Medicare claims data. As the first study, to our knowledge, using linked NOPR and Medicare data, this comparison provides information on whether physician-reported data in NOPR reflect the care that is ultimately provided to patients.