Insurance barriers limit access to blood cancer drugs

by Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan

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Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Patients with blood cancers often face major insurance hurdles and significant out-of-pocket costs when trying to access specialty oral anticancer medications, according to a new nationwide study led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Specialty oral anticancer medications, including innovative targeted therapies, have transformed treatment for leukemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma by offering highly effective options that patients can take at home. Because these drugs are typically covered under pharmacy benefits—the part of insurance that pays for prescription drugs—patients may face approval requirements and high cost-sharing before treatment begins.