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Oral anticancer therapies have become popular alternatives to more traditional care, such as chemotherapy. However, research shows that adherence to oral anti-cancer therapies can range from 20% to 100%. Several factors contribute to medication nonadherence and access barriers. To learn more, we spoke with Ami Vyas, PhD, an assistant professor of pharmacy practice, specializing in health outcomes research, at The University of Rhode Island.

Inadequate access to health care can truly be a life or death matter, so health care policy designed to improve access to care, as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is, can have a fundamental effect on making progress against cancer-related mortality and improving the quality of the care delivered, noted Fumiko Chino, MD, assistant attending radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

The Supreme Court says insurers are owed $12 billion under the Affordable Care Act; a study finds those with cancer are at higher risk from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); a survey shows millions would avoid seeking care for COVID-19 due to cost.

This week, the top managed care news included the COVID-19 crisis bringing changes to telehealth and testing; presentations of science in virtual formats; the Affordable Care Act turns 10.

Investigators tracked time to treatment for 3 types of cancer in states that expanded Medicaid coverage on January 1, 2014, comparing rates before and after the expansion. Patients with new diagnoses of invasive breast, colon, or lung cancers aged 40 to 64 years were included in the analysis.