Economic concerns in the changing health care delivery system.

Abstract

The economics of health care increasingly dictate care parameters with cancer care bearing a significant share of the burden because of its chronicity, hospital intensiveness, and lack of standard treatment approaches. A wide variety of effects have surfaced as changes in health care economics have been implemented. Increased emphasis on cost effectiveness, competition, shorter hospital stays, and threatened reimbursement for investigational therapies influence both providers and patients. We outline avenues for responsiveness.