To examine whether regional practice patterns impact racial/ethnic differences in intensity of end‐of‐life care for cancer decedents.
The linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results ()‐Medicare database.
We classified hospital referral regions (s) based on mean 6‐month end‐of‐life care expenditures, which represented regional practice patterns. Using hierarchical generalized linear models, we examined racial/ethnic differences in the intensity of end‐of‐life care across levels of expenditures.
There was greater variation in intensity of end‐of‐life care among Hispanics, Asians, and whites in high‐expenditure s than in low‐expenditure s.
Local practice patterns may influence racial/ethnic differences in end‐of‐life care.
