Patient, Public, And Oncologists' Attitudes Toward Rationing Medical Care

6518 Background: Lowering health care costs is critical. Patients with cancer (PT) and oncologists (MD) regularly make decisions regarding interventions with potentially marginal benefit but substantial expense. What are the attitudes of PT, the public (GP), and MD on ways to control costs? Methods: In 2012, surveys were completed by 326 adult PT (Response Rate (RR)=72%), a random sample of 891 U.S. adults (RR=50%) and 245 MD (RR=55%). Results: A majority thought Medicare spending was a big or moderate problem (76% PT; 75% GP; 97% MD) and that Medicare could spend less without causing harm (66% PT; 70% GP; 74% MD). Respondents attributed rising costs to multiple factors including drug companies charging too much (94% PT; 90% GP; 94% MD) and insurance company profits (88% PT; 88% GP; 83% MD). Many also thought physicians and hospitals provided unnecessary tests and treatments (RX) (69% PT; 81% GP; 70% MD). Regarding solutions, most supported refusing to pay for expensive care if an equally effective, less ...