COVID-19 and the acceleration toward remote cancer care

Abstract

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected cancer patients’ access to care. As a result, many specialists in the United States, including oncologists, have adopted telemedicine—a transition largely made possible by reforms to insurer reimbursement schemes. Years after the COVID-19 crisis, there will continue to be a steady demand for remote outpatient visits, particularly in oncology. However, in a health system heavily influenced by reimbursements, strategies to optimize remote oncology care will not be embraced without appropriate incentives. Here we propose that restructuring financial incentives in three areas of cancer care—anticancer drug delivery, wearable health monitoring, and digital data-sharing tools—has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce overall costs, and expand clinical trial access for patients in underresourced areas. As with telemedicine, it is time for policymakers to recognize this need and adjust the incentives, both for routine care and for clinical trials, to make it possible.