2023 Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer Meeting (Poster)-P1.26. Out of Pocket Costs and Receipt of Financial Assistance for Patients with Lung Cancer Prescribed an Oral Targeted Therapy at an Academic Medical Center

P1.26. Out of Pocket Costs and Receipt of Financial Assistance for Patients with Lung Cancer Prescribed an Oral Targeted Therapy at an Academic Medical Center

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This study evaluates the out-of-pocket costs and financial assistance received by patients with lung cancer who are prescribed oral targeted therapies at an academic medical center. The researchers found that patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) face high copayments for targeted therapies and have variable access to financial assistance programs. About 20% of patients rely on financial assistance programs to pay for their targeted therapies, and 20% paid over $1000 during at least one month of treatment. The majority of patients prescribed lorlatinib, a targeted therapy, had a mean 30-day copay of $150, or $1800 per year.<br /><br />The study analyzed data from the UCSF Specialty Pharmacy's lung cancer-directed targeted therapies from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. 66 unique patient-drug combinations were included in the analysis. The mean age of the patients was 72, with 65% being male, 47% non-Hispanic White, and 45% Asian. The most common primary payors were Medicare Part D (63%) and commercial insurance (23%).<br /><br />Moving forward, the researchers suggest developing clinic-level workflows to identify patients with high copays and connect them to existing financial resources. They also highlight the need for policies to ensure that the cost of these novel cancer therapies does not prohibit access to patients who need them. The study's findings can inform interventions to reduce financial toxicity and improve adherence to treatment.<br /><br />The study provides a breakdown of the copayments and financial assistance received for different targeted therapies. Osimertinib was the most commonly prescribed drug, with 49% of patients receiving it, followed by afatinib (9%), alectinib (8%), capmatinib (8%), erlotinib (8%), and lorlatinib (8%). The maximum 30-day copay ranged from $5 for erlotinib to $3050 for osimertinib. The percentage of patients with a mean 30-day copay of $150 or more varied across the drugs, from 16% for osimertinib to 60% for lorlatinib. The percentage of patients receiving financial assistance ranged from 0% for afatinib to 40% for alectinib and erlotinib.<br /><br />Overall, this study highlights the high out-of-pocket costs faced by lung cancer patients prescribed oral targeted therapies and the importance of financial assistance programs in ensuring access to these medications. The findings call for further research on the impact of financial assistance programs on financial toxicity and treatment adherence.

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Meera Ragavan, University of California, San Francisco, United States

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Speaker Meera Ragavan, University of California, San Francisco, United States

Topic Poster Listing

Keywords

lung cancer

oral targeted therapies

out-of-pocket costs

financial assistance

non-small cell lung cancer

copayments

access to financial assistance programs

lorlatinib

UCSF Specialty Pharmacy

patient-drug combinations