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The effects of hydrocodone rescheduling on pain management of older lung cancer patients

Award Number: R21CA277849
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/23/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2025

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The effects of hydrocodone rescheduling on pain management of older lung cancer patients - Project Summary Pain is a highly prevalent, complex, debilitating symptom for cancer patients. Pain management is an essential component of cancer care. Adequate pain management can significantly improve health-related quality of life for patients. However, there are substantial disparities in access to adequate pain management especially among underserved and underprivileged populations. Meanwhile, the opioid epidemic is a serious public health crisis, and there have been many policy efforts to curb opioid misuse. One important policy change is the rescheduling of hydrocodone from Schedule III to Schedule II in 2014 by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. However, prior literature has shown mixed evidence on the actual overall impacts of this policy, as patients could either receive non-opioid pharmacotherapy (e.g. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, muscle relaxant, anticonvulsants) or stronger opioids as replacements for hydrocodone. Additionally, few studies examined the impact on pain management strategies and outcomes among cancer patients, who may face potentially higher barriers to adequate pain management. Further, how the policy change affects underserved and underprivileged groups is largely unknown. We propose to use national cancer registry data linked with Medicare claims (SEER- Medicare) to comprehensively examine the effects of the rescheduling of hydrocodone on older lung cancer patients with a special focus on underserved and underprivileged groups. The proposed study is well in line with the R21 RFA calling for research that utilizes Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrative data to study pain management strategies and outcomes, including underserved and underprivileged groups. We will address the following aims: Aim 1. Examine the change in opioid and non- opioid pharmacotherapy use among older lung cancer patients before and after the rescheduling of hydrocodone from Schedule III to Schedule II. Aim 2. Compare the adequacy of pain management in terms of prevalence of service use consistent with inadequate pain management among older lung cancer patients before and after the rescheduling. Aim 3. Examine potential disparities in the use of medications for pain management and service use consistent with inadequate pain management among older lung cancer patients dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid and among patients in racial/ethnic minority groups. The proposed study will provide important insights to guide policy efforts and clinical practice aimed at improving pain management and reducing disparities in cancer patients.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$7 )
2026	2022	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY	500 UNIVERSITY DRIVE	HERSHEY	PA	17033	DAUPHIN	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	12/30/2025	NEW	-$7
														Subtotal = -$7

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY	500 UNIVERSITY DRIVE	HERSHEY	PA	17033	DAUPHIN	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	9/12/2024	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $470,964 )
2022	2022	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	500 UNIVERSITY AVE RM C1607	HERSHEY	PA	17033	DAUPHIN	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	9/23/2022	NEW	$470,964
														Subtotal = $470,964

Grand Total All Awards = $470,957

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The effects of hydrocodone rescheduling on pain management of older lung cancer patients

Award Number: R21CA277849

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/23/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2025

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