Unequal Use of New Technologies by Race: The Use of New Prostate Surgeries (Transurethral Needle Ablation, Transurethral Microwave Therapy and Laser) Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries

Purpose: We compared the availability and use of transurethral microwave therapy, transurethral needle ablation, contact or noncontact laser therapy and transurethral resection of the prostate among elderly black and white Medicare beneficiaries. Materials and Methods: We examined 100% Medicare Inpatient, Outpatient, Carrier and Denominator files of men 65 years old or older who underwent these procedures in 1999 through 2001. White-to-black race rate ratios for each procedure were computed for the entire United States, as well as for a restricted set of counties in which procedures were available to black beneficiaries. Results: A total of 170,067 TURP, 16,953 TUMT, 5,353 TUNA and 12,134 Laser procedures were performed during 3 years. Nationally there was only a 3% difference in the age adjusted TURP rates between white and black men (6.13 and 5.94 per 1,000 person-years, respectively). However, the age adjusted rates for TUMT and TUNA among white men were about twice those among black men (0.63 vs 0.31 and 0.20 vs 0.10 per 1,000 person-years, respectively). Laser rates were 17% higher among white men than among black men (0.44 vs 0.38 per 1,000 person-years). Large geographic variation existed in the new procedure rates. Negative binomial regression analysis confirmed the national findings in those counties in which the procedures were available to black men. Adjusted white-to-black rate ratios were 1.96 (95% CI 1.70-2.25) for TUMT, 2.33 (95% CI 1.87-2.90) for TUNA and 1.36 (95% CI 1.16-1.59) for Laser. Conclusions: After controlling for availability, elderly black Medicare beneficiaries were less likely to undergo the new BPH procedures than white beneficiaries, while the usage difference for TURP remained small.