Actinic keratoses - or AK - are skin growths that most commonly appear on sun-exposed areas. These growths require regular management because a small proportion of them can progress to squamous cell skin cancer.
A new article and podcast published online by JAMA Dermatology examines geographic variability in health care usage and spending for the management of AK. Understanding geographic variation in AK spending is an opportunity to decrease waste or recoup excess spending, according to the report.
Joslyn S. Kirby, M.D., M.S., M.Ed., of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa., and coauthors, used data from a medical claims database for their study that examined geographic variation in health care costs and the association with patient-related and health-related factors.
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To read the full study and preview the podcast, please visit the For The Media website.
( JAMA Dermatology . Published online March 1, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.4733; available pre-embargo at the For The Media website.)
Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
JAMA Dermatology