MAIMONIDES MEDICAL CENTER

Rural Radiation Oncology Clinic Closures Threaten Cancer Patient Care Across the U.S.

- A nationwide study tracking over 3,000 radiation oncology clinics from 2018 to 2025 reveals that freestanding practices were 56% more likely to close than hospital-affiliated sites, with rural communities disproportionately affected. - As of 2025, 68.5% of U.S. counties—home to approximately 50.8 million people—had no radiation oncology practice site, with these areas showing higher poverty and uninsured rates. - The loss of a single rural clinic frequently leaves patients without local access to radiation therapy, forcing hours of daily travel for treatment that requires five visits per week over several weeks. - Researchers call for policy interventions and improved reimbursement models to preserve access in underserved communities before gaps widen further.