Changing doctor payments to encourage active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer
Aligning financial incentives to promote rational use of active surveillance for prostate cancer
This project looks at whether changing payment rules can help more men with low-risk prostate cancer safely choose active surveillance instead of immediate treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304065 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will design alternative payment models that give clinicians financial support for monitoring patients and meeting quality targets tied to active surveillance. They will partner with health systems and insurers to put these payment approaches into practice and compare how they change treatment choices. The team will use medical records and insurance claims to track who gets surveillance versus immediate treatment, related side effects, and total costs. The goal is to see if payment changes lead to more appropriate, less harmful care for men with favorable-risk prostate cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men diagnosed with favorable-risk or low-risk prostate cancer who are clinically eligible for active surveillance are the primary group who could be affected or recruited for related programs.
Not a fit: Men with high-risk or aggressive prostate cancer who need prompt curative treatment are unlikely to benefit from policies that promote surveillance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more men avoiding unnecessary surgery or radiation, fewer treatment-related side effects, and lower health care costs.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior payment reforms and implementation efforts have modestly increased conservative management, but targeted alternative payment models specifically promoting surveillance are a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shahinian, Vahakn B — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Shahinian, Vahakn B
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.