The intersection of financial burden and cancer care continues to pose significant challenges for patients, despite notable improvements in overall patient experience, according to experts at the 2024 Patient-Centered Oncology Care (PCOC) event.
Financial Barriers Impact Treatment Decisions
Recent data from the American Cancer Society reveals a concerning trend: 17% of cancer patients are foregoing essential follow-up care due to financial concerns. The burden extends beyond direct medical costs to include transportation expenses and hospital stays, often forcing families to make difficult decisions about treatment continuation.
"You should be able to prescribe exactly what you need to for that patient to get them cancer-free in the simplest way possible," says BrandiLee Sawyer, patient care coordinator at First Ascent Biomedical. "The patients shouldn't have that financial burden or toxicity weighing so heavily on them because of the cost of everything."
Gender Disparities and Initial Care Response
The study highlighted significant gender disparities in patient experience, with 31% of women and 21% of men reporting their initial health concerns were not taken seriously. This disparity underscores the need for more equitable approaches to patient care and communication.
Prior Authorization Delays Create Additional Barriers
A JAMA Network Open study revealed that 69% of cancer patients experienced care delays due to prior authorization requirements, with 73% of these delays extending beyond two weeks. Many patients spent 11 or more hours dealing directly with insurance companies, leading to decreased trust in the healthcare system.
Innovative Solutions and Progress
Healthcare providers are implementing various solutions to address these challenges:
- Telehealth Integration: Practices are expanding virtual care options to improve access and reduce transportation barriers
- Enhanced Support Systems: Organizations like New York Cancer & Blood Specialists have added triage nurse practitioners and survivorship programs
- Technology Adoption: Implementation of artificial intelligence and automated processes to streamline prior authorizations and reduce administrative burden
"Now there's a lot more of this empowerment, and patients are able to do research online," notes Dr. Alex Morozov, chief medical officer at Pi Health. "We are starting to do more patient matching [for] trials, so the patient doesn't have to shop around different centers before they find the trial."
Impact on Elderly Patients
Older patients on fixed incomes face particular challenges, often prioritizing cost concerns during initial consultations. Dr. Sindhuja Kadambi of the University of Rochester observes, "Most of them are on a fixed income, so the financial burden of their cancer care is definitely one of the first things on their mind."
Looking Forward: Technology and Patient Care
Healthcare providers are increasingly leveraging technology to improve patient care while reducing administrative burdens. Innovations in genomic sequencing and clinical trial matching are showing promise in personalizing treatment approaches and expanding access to cutting-edge therapies.
The ongoing challenge remains balancing advanced care delivery with financial accessibility, requiring continued focus on systemic changes to reduce financial toxicity in cancer care.
