scholarly journals Financial burden experienced by patients undergoing treatment for malignant gliomas

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Kumthekar ◽  
Becky V. Stell ◽  
Daniel I. Jacobs ◽  
Irene B. Helenowski ◽  
Alfred W. Rademaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Tumor Recurrence ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Malignant Gliomas ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Medical Costs ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Preferred Provider Organizations ◽  
Hospital Bill

Abstract Background Patients undergoing treatment for malignant gliomas (MGs) can encounter medical costs beyond what their insurance covers. The magnitude and type of costs experienced by patients are unknown. The purpose of this study was to have patients or their families report on the medical costs incurred during the patients MG treatment. Methods Patients with MG were eligible if they were within 6 months of diagnosis or tumor recurrence. Patients had to be ≥18 years of age, fluent in English, and not aphasic. Weekly logbooks were issued to patients for recording associated costs for ∼6 months or until tumor progression. “Out-of-pocket” (OOP) costs included medical and nonmedical expenses that were not reimbursed by insurance. Direct medical costs included hospital and physician bills. Direct nonmedical costs included transportation, parking, and other related items. Indirect medical costs included lost wages. Costs were analyzed to provide mean and medians with range of expenses. Results Forty-three patients provided cost data for a median of 12 weeks. There were 25 men and 18 women with a median age of 57 years (range, 24y–73y); 79% were married, and 49% reported annual income >$75 000. Health insurance coverage was preferred provider organizations for 58% of patients, and median deductible was $1 500. Median monthly OOP cost was $1 342 (mean, $2 451; range, $333.41–$17 267.16). The highest OOP median costs were medication copayments ($710; range, $0–13 611.20), transportation ($327; range, $0–$1 927), and hospital bill copayments ($403; range, $0–$4 000). Median lost wages were $7 500, and median lost days of work were 12.8. Conclusions OOP costs for MG patients can be significant and comprise direct and indirect costs across several areas. Informing patients about expected costs could limit additional duress and allow financial support systems to be implemented.

Autism and Families' Financial Burden: The Association With Health Insurance Coverage

2015 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan L. Parish ◽  
Kathleen C. Thomas ◽  
Christianna S. Williams ◽  
Morgan K. Crossman
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Private Insurance ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Medical Expenditure ◽  
Outpatient Services ◽  
Raising Children

Abstract We examined the relationship between family financial burden and children's health insurance coverage in families (n  =  316) raising children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), using pooled 2000–2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Measures of family financial burden included any out-of-pocket spending in the previous year, and spending as a percentage of families' income. Families spent an average of $9.70 per $1,000 of income on their child's health care costs. Families raising children with private insurance were more than 5 times as likely to have any out-of-pocket spending compared to publicly insured children. The most common out-of-pocket expenditure types were medications, outpatient services, and dental care. This study provides evidence of the relative inadequacy of private insurance in meeting the needs of children with ASD.

scholarly journals Bridging the Funding Gap for Oncology Services in LMIC: The BWS Cancer Patient Treatment Intervention Fund Project

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 184s-184s
Author(s):  
A. Nnamani ◽  
N. Iloanusi ◽  
C. Okwuosa ◽  
A. Lasebikan ◽  
I. Okoye
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patient ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Treatment Intervention ◽  
The Government

Amount raised: #1,627,000 (Nigerian Naira) Background and context: With a large population and very limited resources, the economic burden of cancer in our country is enormous and cannot be tackled solely by the government. A high mortality rate among newly diagnosed patients is a direct result of poverty and lack of an effective health insurance coverage for cancer, among other reasons. Breast cancer accounts for two out of five women cancers, with a 70% mortality. Aim: To alleviate the financial burden of cancer treatment on indigent patients. Strategy/Tactics: We constituted the Cancer Patient Treatment Intervention Fund (CPTIF) board of partners and funders. We also inaugurated a fundraising event, the annual Go Pink Day Ball, and instituted crowd-funding schemes. Program process: Indigent patients diagnosed at BWS and designated health facilities are referred to CPTIF for financial support. The patient is reviewed for eligibility by the medical board. If approved by the CPTIF Board of Directors, the required funds are paid directly to the designated tertiary health facility where patient will be receiving the oncology services. Costs and returns: Between December 2017 and March 2018 a total of #1,627,000 (Nigerian Naira) was raised, a total of #750,950 has been spent on 7 patients at different levels of oncology services. The cost covered included laboratory tests, ultrasounds, biopsies chemotherapy and radiotherapy. What was learned: Financial assistance gave these patients a lifeline and zeal to go through the usually overwhelming cancer treatment process.

scholarly journals Challenges with Pain Treatment for Rural Older Adults: Family Caregivers' Views

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 893-894
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Noh ◽  
Cho Rong Won ◽  
Zainab Suntai
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Pain Treatment ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Rural Older Adults

Abstract Family caregivers face various challenges in assisting older adults experiencing pain and difficult symptoms. Living in rural areas poses additional obstacles to their caregiving. The purpose of this study was to explore family caregivers’ lived experiences in caring for older adults with pain and discomfort in rural communities. A qualitative research design was adopted to capture the common essence of participants’ experiences through a phenomenological method. Purposeful sampling was used, and the participant criteria was: age 18+, have good thinking skills, resident of Alabama, provide unpaid assistance to a family/relative who has chronic/serious health conditions and experienced pain/discomfort in the last 3 months. Ten participants were recruited from rural counties of Alabama. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted via phone and were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive, thematic analysis of the data revealed themes in five categories: 1) impact of pain (physical and psychological/emotional toll), 2) coping strategies (faith/contentment with life/logistical adaptation), 3) impact of Covid-19 (physical health/social interaction/mental health/added caregiving), 4) challenges in pain treatment (transportation (time/distance/driver/cost) and non-transportation related problems (healthcare provider issues/health insurance/financial burden)), and 5) suggestions (transportation-related (more transportation options/tailored services) and non-transportation-related support (home-based services/better health insurance coverage)). Findings of this study highlight rural family caregivers’ unique experiences in assisting older adults’ access to pain treatment, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Policy- and program-level intervention is called for to increase individualized transportation options, improve health insurance coverage, and expand financial support for rural older adults experiencing pain and their caregivers.

How Can We Help Alleviate the Financial Concerns of Non-Directed (Altruistic) Living Kidney Donors?

2020 ◽  
pp. 152692482097858
Author(s):  
Ariella Maghen ◽  
Georgina Mendoza ◽  
Grecia B. Vargas ◽  
Sarah E. Connor ◽  
Sima Nassiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Donor Pool ◽  
Number Of Patients

Introduction: The recent increase in non-directed donors (NDDs) in the United States (U.S.) may help reduce the overwhelming number of patients on the waitlist. However, non-directed donation may be limiting its full potential. Out-of-pocket donation costs upward of $8,000 may be a barrier to potential donors with altruistic tendencies, but inadequate financial support. This study aimed to describe the financial concerns of 31 U.S. NDDs. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews and administered quantitative demographic surveys between April 2013 and April 2015. Interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory techniques to describe and expand on themes relevant to the NDD experience. Findings: We identified 4 sub-themes related to the theme of financial concerns: (1) direct costs related to transportation, lodging, and parking, (2) indirect costs of lost wages encountered from taking time off work to recover from surgery, (3) sources of financial support, and (4) suggestions for alleviating donor financial burden. Two thirds of participants (20) expressed concerns about direct and indirect donation costs. 11 NDDs reported the negative impact of direct costs,15 NDDs had concerns about indirect costs; only 7 donors received supplemental financial support from state mandates and transplant programs. Discussion: Understanding the financial concerns of NDDs may guide improvements in the NDD donation experience that could support individuals who are interested in donating but lack the financial stability to donate. Removing financial disincentives may help increase nondirected donation rates, increase the living donor pool, and the number of kidneys available for transplantation.

scholarly journals Delivery of Financial Navigation Services within National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet S de Moor ◽  
Michelle Mollica ◽  
Annie Sampson ◽  
Brenda Adjei ◽  
Sallie J Weaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Cancer Institute ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Medical Costs ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Debt Management ◽  
Financial Assistance ◽  
Cancer Centers ◽  
Assistance Programs

Abstract Background Cancer Centers have a responsibility to help patients manage the costs of their cancer treatment. This article describes the availability of financial navigation services within the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers. Methods Data were obtained from the NCI Survey of Financial Navigation Services and Research, an online survey administered to NCI-Designated Cancer Centers from July to September 2019. Of the 62 eligible Centers, 57 completed all or most of the survey, for a response rate of 90.5%. Results Nearly all Cancer Centers reported providing help with applications for pharmaceutical assistance programs and medical discounts (96.5%), health insurance coverage (91.2%), assistance with non-medical costs (96.5%), and help understanding medical bills and out-of-pocket costs (85.9%). Although other services were common, in some cases they were only available to certain patients. These services included direct financial assistance with medical and non-medical costs and referrals to outside organizations for financial assistance. The least common services included medical debt management (63.2%), detailed discussions about the cost of treatment (54.4%), and guidance about legal protections (50.1%). Providing treatment cost transparency to patients was reported as a common challenge: 71.9% of Centers agreed or strongly agreed that it is difficult to determine how much a cancer patient’s treatment will cost and 70.2% of oncologists are reluctant to discuss financial issues with patients. Conclusions Cancer Centers provide many financial services and resources. However, there remains a need to build additional capacity to deliver comprehensive financial navigation services and to understand the extent to which patients are referred and helped by these services.

Interpreting out-of-pocket expenditures for cancer patients: The importance of considering baseline household income information

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6541-6541
Author(s):  
W. S. Oatis ◽  
N. Nonzee ◽  
T. Markossian ◽  
V. Shankaran ◽  
J. McKoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Medical Costs ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Monthly Household Income ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Out Of Pocket Costs

6541 Background: Few studies have examined cancer-related out-of-pocket costs (expenses resulting from cancer morbidity and treatment that are not covered by insurance) as a function of baseline household income. We report income-adjusted out-of-pocket cost ratios for 50 patients with lymphoma and 156 patients with breast cancer. Methods: Patients with lymphoma or breast cancer provided 3-month retrospective documentation of cancer-related out-of-pocket costs. Costs were adjusted for income by dividing monthly costs by monthly household income. Direct medical costs include costs related to medications, doctor visits, and hospital stays. Direct non-medical costs are cancer-related peripheral costs, such as transportation and meals. Indirect costs are costs due to lost income. Results: Of our study patients, 83% were Caucasian, 65% were married, 53% were employed, and 65% had at least a bachelor's degree. All patients were undergoing active treatment and had insurance. Mean monthly out-of-pocket costs for patients with lymphoma were slightly greater than for those with breast cancer ($1,888 vs $1,455, respectively). Among patients with an annual income of $30,000 or less, the total monthly out-of-pocket costs were more than 3 times the monthly household income for patients with lymphoma and equal to the monthly household income for patients with breast cancer. The total mean income-adjusted cost ratio was 1.75 for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma versus 0.42 and 0.61 for those with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma or Hodgkin disease, respectively. Conclusions: Cancer-related out-of-pocket expenses disproportionately affect lower-income individuals with lymphoma or breast cancer and are primarily driven by the financial burden of co-payments for medical care. Future studies should evaluate out-of-pocket costs in relation to household income to determine more accurately the economic burden of cancer. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Economic Burden of Gastric Cancer: A Case of Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327481983718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abed Eghdami ◽  
Rahim Ostovar ◽  
Abdosaleh Jafari ◽  
Andrew J. Palmer ◽  
Najmeh Bordbar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Economic Burden ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Medical Costs ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Direct Medical Costs ◽  
Illness Study ◽  
Therapeutic Services ◽  
Collection Form

Purpose: Today, cancers have become a major cause of mortality in developed and developing countries. Among various cancers, gastric cancer imposes a huge economic burden on patients, their families, and on the health-care system. This study aimed to determine the economic burden of gastric cancer in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province of Iran in 2016. Methods: This was a cross-sectional cost of illness study conducted in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province of Iran in 2016, using a prevalence-based approach. All patients were studied using the census method (N = 110). The required data on direct medical, direct nonmedical, and indirect costs were collected using a data collection form from the patients’ medical records, tariffs of diagnostic, and therapeutic services approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2016. Results: The total cost and burden of gastric cancer in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province of Iran in 2016 were $US436 237, among which the majority were direct medical costs (59%). The highest costs among direct medical costs, direct nonmedical costs, and indirect costs were, respectively, related to the costs of medications used by the patients (35%), transportation (31%), and absence of patients’ families from work and daily activities caused by patient care (56%). Conclusion: Our study has revealed for the first time high costs of gastric cancer in Iran. To decrease the total costs and burden, the following suggestions can be made: increasing insurance coverage and government subsidies for purchasing necessary medications, providing the required specialized care and services related to cancer diseases such as gastric cancer in other provincial cities rather than just in capital cities, and so on.

Revisiting equity in healthcare spending through capability-approach: assessing the effectiveness of health-insurance schemes in reducing OOPE and CHE in India

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinshu Dwivedi ◽  
Jalandhar Pradhan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Capability Approach ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Private Insurance ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to draw theoretical insight from Sen’s capability-approach and attempts to examine the effectiveness of health-insurance-schemes in reducing out-of-pocket-expenditure (OOPE) and catastrophic-health-expenditure (CHE) in India. Design/methodology/approach Data were extracted from the National-Sample-Survey-Organization, 71st round on Health-2014. Generalized-linear-regression-model was used to investigate the impact of social-protection-schemes on OOPE and CHE. Findings A notable segment of the Indian population is still not covered under any health-insurance-schemes. The majority of the insured population was covered by publicly-financed-health-insurance-schemes (PFHIs), with a trivial-share of private-insurance. Households from 16–59 age-group, urban, literate, richest, southern-regions, using private-facilities and having ear and skin ailments have reported higher insurance coverage. Reimbursement was higher among elderly, literates, middle-class, central-regions, using private-facilities/insurance and for infections. Access to PFHIs significantly reduces the risk of OOPE and CHE. Unavailability of reimbursement exposes the population to a higher risk of CHE. Research limitations/implications Being a study based on secondary data sources, its applicability may vary as per the other social indicators. Practical implications Extending insurance-coverage alone cannot answer the widespread inequalities in health care. Rather, an efficiently managed reimbursement-mechanism could condense OOPE and CHE by enhancing the capability of the population to confront the undue financial burden. Social implications Extending the health-insurance-coverage to the entire population requires a better understanding of the underlying-dynamics and health-care needs and must make health-care affordable by enhancing the overall capability. Originality/value This research brings a theoretical and conceptual analysis for improving the health-insurance coverage among the community as a public health strategy.

scholarly journals Pelatihan Deteksi Karier Thalassemia kepada Bidan di Banyumas

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lantip Rujito ◽  
Qodri Santosa ◽  
Diyah Woro Dwi Lestari ◽  
Eman Sutrisna ◽  
Ariadne Tri Hapsari
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Counseling ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
National Health System ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Knowledge And Skills

Thalassemia ranks top on the list of diseases caused by the monogenic mechanism, especially in hematology disorders. Currentlly, Thalassemia ranks 5th in the national health insurance coverage. Prevention is the only effective way to control the clinical, psychological and financial burden of the country. One aspect of prevention is the discovery and genetic counseling process of persons who carry the mutan gene or carier of thalassemia. Midwives as the most peripheral health workers in the national health system are very important in their role in the discovery and counseling of these people. Provision of sufficient knowledge and skills of midwives can be a reliable tool in efforts to prevent thalassemia in the community.

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