This case study examined the relationship between county-level medical debt and timely cancer treatment initiation, finding that patients in counties with higher medical debt were more likely to experience delays in starting cancer care. The authors concluded that financial burden at the community level — not just the individual level — plays a meaningful role in cancer care disparities. They suggest that policies aimed at reducing medical debt could be an effective lever for improving timely access to treatment for newly diagnosed cancer patients.
Case Study Link: County-level medical debt and treatment initiation among individuals newly diagnosed with cancer
Case Study Contact: Jingxuan Zhao PhD, MPH, jingxuan.zhao@cancer.org
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