Examination of safety net system to help Virginia policy-makers

Cathy J. Bradley, Ph.D., a health economist at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, received funding from the American Cancer Society to conduct research on disparities in cancer diagnosis, treatment and cost based on insurance coverage in Virginia.

Bradley’s study spawned from the Institute of Medicine’s report, “Insuring America’s Health: Principles and Recommendations,” which highlighted the sub-par health care of the approximately 43 million uninsured persons in the United States and called for a universal health insurance program. Currently, the U.S. relies on a safety net system to treat uninsured patients, including patients with chronic, life-threatening and costly diseases such as cancer.

Bradley’s grant, which awards $350,000 over two years, will use patient data to analyze the performance of the safety net system in caring for individuals with cancer. The analysis is expected to help Virginia policymakers make informed decisions aimed toward covering the uninsured. The commonwealth has nearly one million uninsured residents, with the highest percentage concentrated in Central Virginia.

“In the absence of specific knowledge on the performance of Virginia’s safety net system, policymakers may attribute differences between the uninsured and insured to mean that an expansion of the safety net, instead of comprehensive coverage, can ameliorate differences,” said Bradley. “Our analysis will allow us to make significant strides toward expanding and refining the role that health insurance plays in cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the cost resulting from the absence of health insurance.”

Read more from VCU Massey Cancer Center.

Visit VCU Massey Cancer Center on-line at: http://www.massey.vcu.edu