Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: December 21, 2024

SPOTLIGHT: “I Didn’t Go to Med School to Learn How to Save People Money”

Health care stakeholders were called to prioritize patient needs, leverage innovations like Medicare's drug payment smoothing program, and allocate resources more equitably to ensure that patients receive the necessary care without financial hardship in a discussion at the annual meeting of Patient-Centered Oncology Care (PCOC). A. Mark Fendrick, MD, co–editor in chief of The American Journal of Managed Care^®, is a professor in the Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and a professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan, where he is also director of the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design. He emphasized the importance of aligning cancer care with value-based principles to enhance patient outcomes, highlighting the challenges of high health care costs that hinder access to lifesaving treatments and disproportionately affect underserved populations.

Tackling CKM Syndrome as a Holistic Approach to a Growing Health Crisis

Keith Ferdinand, MD, professor of medicine and the Gerald S. Berenson Chair in Preventative Cardiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, discussed the need for a holistic, team-based approach to managing cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. Highlighting the inflammatory role of excess adipose tissue in driving CKM syndrome, he advocated for integrating social determinants of health (SDOH) into screening and risk assessments. Ferdinand underscores the profound impact of factors such as access to health care, diet, and community environment on CKM outcomes and highlights tools like the PREVENT calculator, which incorporates SDOH metrics, including zip code-based Social Deprivation Index, to enhance risk evaluations and improve patient care.

Canadian Study Highlights Care Variability for Older Patients With MDS/AML

A survey of Canadian hematologists revealed significant variations and gaps in supportive care practices for older adults with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving less intensive therapy. The study found that while 95% of respondents used prophylactic platelet transfusions, only 57% employed tranexamic acid, citing uncertainties about its benefits and risks. Prophylactic antimicrobial use was similarly inconsistent, with barriers including insufficient evidence, antimicrobial resistance, and infection risks. The findings highlight a lack of evidence-based guidelines for managing bleeding and infection in this population, underscoring the need for clinical trials to establish standardized, effective strategies as the aging population and disease prevalence grow.

Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Pharmacy Support for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Rachael Drake, a pharmacy technician coordinator at the University of Kansas Health System, works with the medication assistance team to help uninsured and underinsured patients access financial aid for cancer treatments. In an interview, she discussed the significant challenges patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma face, including navigating insurance and affording high treatment costs. Drake also highlighted the availability of support systems such as transportation, lodging assistance, survivorship programs, and support groups, stressing the need to raise awareness about these resources to better assist patients throughout their treatment journey.

5 Things to Know About Electronic Cigarettes

E-cigarettes, popular among youth, pose significant health risks despite being marketed as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes. These devices contain harmful substances, including nicotine and heavy metals, and are linked to addiction, lung disease, and long-term health problems. The industry targets young people with appealing flavors and designs, contributing to widespread use among middle and high school students. While regulatory measures, such as banning flavored e-cigarettes and enforcing age restrictions, aim to curb youth access, concerns about inadequate oversight remain. E-cigarette use is also tied to mental health challenges, with many young users vaping to cope with anxiety and depression, which can worsen due to nicotine addiction.