Access, Affordability, & Accountability: A New Era in Oncology Reimbursement
Financial toxicity in cancer care was the focus of a webinar hosted by AJMC and Targeted Oncology that featured Kate Baker, MD, MMHC; Sanjay Juneja, MD; and Kathy Oubre, MS. Their discussion highlighted that about 75% of patients with cancer face major financial hardship within 1 year of diagnosis, even when insured.
Access barriers contributing to the financial hardship include prior authorization delays, step therapy, and co-pay accumulators, and they advocated for proactive financial counseling, individualized benefit navigation, and open enrollment support. They also addressed the Inflation Reduction Act's effects on community oncology practices and out-of-pocket caps, and they closed with a call for continued legislative advocacy and incremental practice-level reforms.
