HCR Update from Mark Sanna: Although Medicare spending for patients with advance cancers varies regionally, a new study suggests that those differences are not related to survival rates. The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that “Increased spending is associated with more frequent and longer hospital visits, more intensive care, and decreased rates of hospice use.” The researchers recommended “that incentives be used to encourage doctors to reduce hospitalizations and make better use of palliative care for patients.”