To investigate the association between financial strain (defined as adverse financial events) and end-of-life (EOL) care and healthcare spending among cancer patients using credit records.
Key Findings:
Patients with cancer experiencing new adverse financial events (AFEs) were more likely to have multiple emergency department visits or hospitalizations at EOL.
Financial strain was associated with a higher likelihood of dying in a hospital setting.
Increased overall healthcare spending at EOL was correlated with financial hardship.
Interpretation:
Financial strain significantly impacts the type and intensity of care received by cancer patients at the end of life, leading to higher healthcare costs and potentially less goal-concordant care, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Limitations:
Study limited to patients with commercial or Medicare insurance, excluding those on Medicaid, which may skew results.
Potential biases in credit data and self-reported measures of financial hardship could affect the reliability of findings.
Conclusion:
Financial toxicity is a critical factor influencing healthcare utilization and costs at the end of life for cancer patients, necessitating further exploration and intervention strategies.
by Veena Shankaran, Li Li, Sara Khor, Kaiyue Yu, C. Natasha Kwendakwema, Catherine Fedorenko, Karma Kreizenbeck, Hiba M. Khan, Shannon Kestner, Winona Wright, Scott Ramsey
