The Future of Cancer Care: Costs, Access, and Innovation

The cost of cancer treatment is skyrocketing. By 2030, it is expected to hit 245 billion dollars in the United States. This is a huge problem. Why? Because it is becoming increasingly difficult for society to keep up with these rising costs. So, what can be done? There are three main strategies that are being considered to help control these costs. Let's dive into each one. The first strategy is called site neutrality. This idea is about making the payment for cancer treatments the same, no matter where they are given. Right now, hospital-owned practices charge more because they add facility fees. This strategy would get rid of those extra charges. Sounds good, right? Well, maybe not. There are concerns that this could make it harder for some people to get the care they need. It could also shift more of the cost onto patients. Plus, there are safety issues to consider. The second strategy is about digital health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a lot of changes made to how healthcare was delivered. Things like telehealth, hospital at home, and remote patient monitoring became more common. These changes were made quickly, and now there are questions about how to make them work long-term. The worry is that if these changes are not properly regulated, they could create new barriers to access. The third strategy is about drug pricing. In the United States, the price of cancer drugs is much higher than in other countries. This is because there is no negotiation on drug prices. Other countries use systems that compare the value of new drugs to existing treatments. They also look at the cost per additional health benefit. The United States could learn from these systems to make cancer drugs more affordable. So, what does all this mean? It means that there are big changes coming to cancer care. These changes could help control costs, but they could also create new problems. It is important to think critically about these strategies. We need to make sure that they improve access to care and do not just shift costs around. We also need to make sure that they do not compromise safety. The future of cancer care is uncertain, but it is clear that big changes are needed.