Economic Evaluation of a Nonmedical Financial Assistance Program on Missed Treatment Appointments Among Adults With Cancer.

Purpose: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and economic impact of a program providing nonmedical financial assistance on missed treatment appointments among patients receiving cancer treatment at a large, Southeastern public hospital system.

Materials And Methods: We used patient electronic health records, program records, and cancer registry data to examine the impact of the program on rates of missed (or no-show) radiation therapy and infusion chemotherapy/immunotherapy appointments in the 180 days after treatment initiation. We used propensity weighting to estimate the effect of the program, stratified by treatment appointment type (radiation therapy, infusion chemotherapy/immunotherapy).

Association of patient-reported financial barriers with healthcare utilization among Medicare beneficiaries with a history of cancer.

Purpose: We examined characteristics associated with financial barriers to healthcare and the association of financial barriers with adverse healthcare events among US adult cancer survivors enrolled in Medicare.

Methods: We used nationally representative Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data (2011-2013, 2015-2017) to identify adults with a history of non-skin cancer. We defined financial barriers as cost-related trouble accessing and/or delayed care in the prior year.

Facing financial barriers to healthcare: patient-informed adaptation of a conceptual framework for adults with a history of cancer.

Background: Cancer-related financial hardship is associated with negative clinical outcomes, which may be partially explained by cost-related delayed or forgone care in response to financial barriers. We sought to understand patient experiences facing financial barriers to medical care following a cancer diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted virtual, semi-structured interviews in Fall 2022 with 20 adults with a history of cancer who had experienced cancer-related financial hardship in the prior year.

Barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among resource-limited adults diagnosed with chronic illness.

Background: Despite the use of interventions (e.g., monetary incentives, educational campaigns, on-site workplace vaccination) to increase COVID-19 vaccination, differences in uptake persist by poverty level, insurance status, geography, race, and ethnicity, suggesting that these interventions may not be adequately addressing the barriers faced by these populations.

Health insurance and financial hardship in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uninsured or underinsured individuals with cancer are likely to experience financial hardship, including forgoing healthcare or non-healthcare needs such as food, housing, or utilities. This study evaluates the association between health insurance coverage and financial hardship among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional analysis used Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) survey data from May to July 2020.

Navigating Access to Cancer Care: Identifying Barriers to Precision Cancer Medicine.

Objective: Precision medicine is revolutionizing cancer treatment. However, there has been limited investigation of barriers patients endure to access precision cancer medicine. This study aims to report the experiences of underserved patient populations with limited access to genomic testing, clinical trials, and precision cancer treatment.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Financial Consequences of Cancer-Related Employment Disruption.

Introduction: Cancer-related employment disruption contributes to financial toxicity and associated clinical outcomes through income loss and changes in health insurance and may not be uniformly experienced. We examined racial/ethnic differences in the financial consequences of employment disruption.

Methods: We surveyed a national sample of cancer patients employed at diagnosis who had received assistance from a national nonprofit about the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on employment.

Engaging Stakeholders to Develop a Patient-centered Research Agenda: Lessons Learned From the Research Action for Health Network (REACHnet).

Background: Patient-centered research requires a focus on the needs and priorities of patients. Because patient engagement can result in the discovery of important topics not currently prioritized by research programs, topic generation, and prioritization activities conducted with patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders are essential. To develop patient-centered research agendas for obesity and diabetes, the Research Action for Health Network conducted topic generation and prioritization activities with multistakeholder research advisory groups.

Non-Face-to-Face Chronic Care Management: A Qualitative Study Assessing the Implementation of a New CMS Reimbursement Strategy.

Diabetes and its comorbidities are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States and disproportionately in Louisiana. Chronic care management (CCM) efforts, such as care coordination models, are important initiatives in mitigating the impact of diabetes, such as poorer health outcomes and increased costs. This study examined one such effort, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' non-face-to-face CCM reimbursement program, for patients with diabetes and at least 1 other chronic condition in Louisiana.