Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 5, 1 Mei 2020 — Survey: COVID-19 Affecting Patients' Access to Cancer Care [ARTICLE]

Survey: COVID-19 Affecting Patients' Access to Cancer Care

Cancer patients and those who've recently completed treatment are finding it challenging to get necessary heahh care during the COVID-19 pandemic and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) says many are also experiencing finaneial stress trying to afford care in an increasingly difficult eeonomie environment. A recent survey reports that 51% of cancer patients have experienced some impact on their care due to the virus, the most prevalent being a delay in care or treatment. While the eeonomie stress is prevalent across all respondents, the eoneem is especially pronounced among patients with lower- and middleclass incomes. Nearly half of those earning $30,000 or less say they're worried about affording their care. "Reduced work hours and job loss is having a notable effect on a cancer patient's ability to access and afford healthcare all the while knowing their underlying heahh condition is increasing the ehanee of severe complications if they do get COVID-19," said ACS CAN Hawai'i Government Relations Director Cory Chun. Patient groups, such ACS CAN, are asking Congress and the administration to help patients by providing assistance for people who have lost employer-sponsored heahh care coverage as well as creating a special enrollment period for Healthcare.gov and increasing state Medicaid programs. "If passed, these actions could benefit cancer patients here in Hawai'i," said Chun.