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The COVID-19 Effect: Medicare Part B Oncology Drug Claims Down 40% Through April

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Study commissioned by the PhRMA underscores concerns about how the coronavirus has disrupted use of physician-administered drugs.

Infusion of a hospital
Physician Administration Of Infused Drugs Down Sharply

Medicare Part B claims for the top 10 oncology drugs in terms of spending were significantly lower at the end of April compared to the previous year as the COVID-19 pandemic limited patient access to in-person care, according to a recent analysis by Avalere Health.

Avalere looked at billing frequency for branded oncology drugs (including chemotherapies and immune-oncology) with the highest Part B drug spending...

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