The study, published Oct. 25 in The BMJ, used Open Payment data and Medicare claims for new cancer diagnosis between 2014 and 2019. Researchers looked at prescriptions of two non-recommended drugs, denosumab and granulocyte colony stimulating factors, and two low-value drugs, nab-paclitaxel and branded cancer drugs when generic or similar versions were available.
Researchers found that physicians who received payments were more likely to prescribe denosumab (49.5% vs. 31.4%), granulocyte colony stimulating factors (32.1% vs 26.6%) and nab-paclitaxel (15.1% vs. 7.3%). However, physicians receiving payments were less likely to prescribe branded drugs (83.5% vs 88.3%).
Researchers said the findings raised potential concerns about quality of care and that personal payments from the drug industry should be re-examined.
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