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This study confirms a high rate of cetuximab hypersensitivity reactions in a southern region of the US. Patients with head/neck cancers were significantly more likely to have hypersensitivity reactions than patients with colon cancers.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Economic factors might affect the use of recommended preventative services. We sought to determine whether the recent, severe economic recession was associated with diminished screening colonoscopy rates among an insured population and to assess the relationship between out-of-pocket (OOP) costs and screening colonoscopy use. METHODS Administrative data from 106 health plans (LifeLink™ Health Plan Claims Database) were analyzed to determine monthly rates of screening colonoscopies performed on 50–64 year old beneficiaries between January 2005 and November 2007 (pre-recession), as well as December 2007 through June 2009 (recession). Segmented regression models were used to evaluate changes in screening colonoscopy rates, as well as the relationship between screening and OOP costs before and during the recession. RESULTS Compared to pre-recession trends, during the recession screening colonoscopy rates decreased by 68.9 colonoscopies/1,000,000 individuals per month (95% confidence interval, decreased of 84.6–53.1; P<.001). Application of study estimates to the entire US population indicated that during the recession, commercially insured, 50–64 year olds underwent approximately 500,000 fewer screening colonoscopies. Compared to those with low OOP costs, those with high OOP procedure costs had lower rates of screening before and during the recession, and had a greater reduction in screening rates during the recession (P=.035). CONCLUSIONS During the recession of December 2007–June 2009, insured individuals reduced their use of screening colonoscopy, compared with the 2 years before the recession began. OOP costs were inversely related to screening use, especially during the recession. Policies to reduce cost sharing could increase adherence to recommended preventive services such as colonoscopy examinations.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes are among the most prevalent and costly chronic health conditions affecting the U.S. population. Prescription treatments for these conditions are of critical importance to the health of patients, yet suboptimal adherence to prescription treatments for these conditions is not uncommon. While monthly prescription restriction has become a commonly used mechanism to reduce medication utilization, little is known about the effect of this policy on patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes.

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