Feasibility of Linking Health Systems Data to Cancer Registry Data in Washington State

SEER Special Study #19

PI: Scott Ramsey MD PhD

The objectives of this NCI-funded study are to link the local Seattle-Puget Sound cancer registry database with administrative databases for a Washington State-sponsored health insurance plan, a private fee for service plan, and a jointly funded Federal-State Health insurance plan for certain low-income and needy people. For those who develop breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, and ovarian cancer, this linked database will be one of the first that can 1) evaluate cancer treatments beyond intitial therapy, 2) measure outcomes for cancer patients ; and 3) determine costs of care for those persons under age 65. The overall aim of this project is to be able to compare costs and treatment for cancer patients in different health plans and populations. This study will provide a unique database for these purposes.