What Oncologists Must Account for: The Financial Burden of Cancer-Associated Symptom Relief

Abstract

Open Payments is a public database containing information reported by companies about payments made to US-licensed physicians (Open Payments).

The ripple effect: Cancer‐related financial toxicity for family members and caregivers

“…Health insurance packages provided by the government, although helpful, do not completely cover an individual's costs of care in many Southeast Asian countries 52 . Although a growing body of evidence 53 supports the importance of achieving universal healthcare in the provision of cancer care, in the meantime, far greater financial support is needed for patients with a diagnosis of cancer, particularly for patients who are in greatest need and who require government assistance, underscoring the need to bring down the costs of care 54,55 …”

“…52 Although a growing body of evidence 53 supports the importance of achieving universal healthcare in the provision of cancer care, in the meantime, far greater financial support is needed for patients with a diagnosis of cancer, particularly for patients who are in greatest need and who require government assistance, underscoring the need to bring down the costs of care. 54,55 We believe interventions at the policy level must go beyond the healthcare system. 54 In many Southeast Asian countries, there is little to no employment protection for people whose ability to work is impacted by care they provide for others.…”

Who Should Be Responsible for Relief of Financial Toxicity?

“…4 We agree wholeheartedly with the need to be cognizant of this and to help patients mitigate the effects of this financial toxicity; however, we disagree with the focus aimed solely at oncologists. 2 Although the oncologist should lead this effort, it will require a team-based approach to solve this problem. Why?…”

Assessing the impact of digital patient monitoring on health outcomes and healthcare resource usage in addition to the feasibility of its combination with at-home treatment, in participants receiving systemic anticancer treatment in clinical practice: protocol for an interventional, open-label, multicountry platform study (ORIGAMA)

“… 7 In addition, the financial burden of using prescription medications and allied healthcare professionals (eg, physiotherapists, dieticians) to manage anticancer treatment-related symptoms/AEs can be a significant source of out-of-pocket patient expenses, which have not been well documented thus far. 8 Overall, there is a strong need for improved, patient-empowered management of cancer and anticancer treatment-related symptoms/AEs that may compromise improvements in patient outcomes or consume healthcare/financial resources. Improved understanding, prevention and mitigation of disease-related or treatment-related symptoms, and development of tools to facilitate long-term tracking of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and self-management of such symptoms/AEs, are thus key research and cancer care priorities.…”

“…For instance, patients with urothelial carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or Merkel cell carcinoma receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and experiencing treatment-related symptoms/AEs have an increased risk of unplanned hospitalisations and emergency room visits, and increased overall healthcare costs, compared with those without treatment-related symptoms/AEs 7. In addition, the financial burden of using prescription medications and allied healthcare professionals (eg, physiotherapists, dieticians) to manage anticancer treatment-related symptoms/AEs can be a significant source of out-of-pocket patient expenses, which have not been well documented thus far 8. Overall, there is a strong need for improved, patient-empowered management of cancer and anticancer treatment-related symptoms/AEs that may compromise improvements in patient outcomes or consume healthcare/financial resources.…”