Head and Neck Reconstruction and Relative Disincentives to Surgical Reconstruction

HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a high-risk cancer with a 10-year mortality rate 30% lower than HPV-positive disease1. Patients with HPV-negative disease are more likely to be non-white and of lower socioeconomic status2, and thus more likely to experience care disparities. Financial support for head and neck (HNC) care is critical for ensuring equitable access to care. Examining non-profit support, reimbursement rates and hospital-associated costs for HNC patients relative to other patients requiring complex reconstruction may reveal care disparities.