Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: September 18, 2026

AI, Imaging, and Smarter Screening Drive Early Lung Disease Detection

Early detection and prevention of lung disease are moving from research concepts toward routine clinical practice, according to speakers at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress 2026. Amy Hai Yan Chan, PharmD, of the University of Auckland, cited an Australian study in which artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted spirometry interpretation in more than 1000 primary care patients reached 84% sensitivity and 86% specificity compared with clinician diagnosis but cautioned that digital tools deliver little without redesigned care pathways; one systematic review found that only 3% of more than 100 respiratory apps meaningfully supported patient self-monitoring.

Arnaud Bourdin, MD, PhD, of the University of Montpellier, described AI-based CT scoring of mucus plugs as a potential predictor of response to biologic therapy and said standardized scoring, rather than imaging access, is the main barrier to broader use. On lung cancer screening, ERS President Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko, MD, PhD, pointed to UK data showing that less deprived, lower-risk invitees responded at the highest rate (34%), while more deprived, higher-risk groups were least likely to participate, and highlighted community-based strategies such as a mobile CT pilot in rural Poland that screened more than 3000 people and a Roma community ambassador program in Hungary.

Employer Benefits Should Reflect Workforce Needs: Rosa Novo

Employer-sponsored cancer benefits should be designed around the specific needs of a workforce rather than generic access standards, according to Rosa Novo, executive benefits director at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), who spoke at the Community Oncology Alliance Payer Exchange & Innovation Summit on September 15. Novo said the district must reach employees who speak 55 languages and argued that access should be assessed through ZIP code-level health disparities rather than mileage from a facility. MDCPS covers preventive and diagnostic mammograms and colonoscopies, as well as cervical cancer screening, at no cost to members; Novo noted that more than 72% of colonoscopies initiated as preventive became diagnostic, a shift that would otherwise leave members with unexpected bills because federal requirements mandate coverage only for preventive screening.

She also described an individualized return-to-work approach in which the district coordinates with site administrators on options such as intermittent leave, alternative hours, and adjusted workloads, and emphasized transparent reporting so employers can evaluate quality of care and return on investment.

Expanding Access to CAR T-Cell Therapy, Bispecific Antibodies: Swarup Kumar, MD

Institutional preparation and support are central to safely delivering chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and bispecific T-cell engagers to patients with multiple myeloma, according to Swarup Kumar, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine at UConn Health's Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. Kumar said UConn Health, an early adopter of bispecific therapy, built a framework to identify and screen candidates and educate them throughout treatment, including supportive care services and nearby housing for some patients.

The center recently implemented an outpatient protocol that allows patients to receive T-cell engager therapy in the clinic rather than during a hospital stay, and it is finalizing protocols to offer CAR T-cell therapy on site. Because patients receiving these therapies can become seriously ill, Kumar attributed improved care and responses to patient education, anticipation of adverse effects, early preventive intervention, and rapid recognition of toxicities.

Tafasitamab Results in Real-World Study on Par With Those in L-MIND

Real-world response rates to tafasitamab (Monjuvi; Incyte) for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were comparable to, and numerically higher than, those in the pivotal L-MIND trial in a more racially and ethnically diverse population, according to a retrospective chart review published in The Oncologist.

The Incyte-funded study, with chart abstraction conducted by Cardinal Health, included 181 adults treated by 23 US community and academic oncologists; 22.1% were Black or African American and 17.1% were Hispanic, whereas the L-MIND population was 89% White. The overall response rate (ORR) was 73%, vs 60% in L-MIND, and was statistically comparable across subgroups, ranging from 67.7% among Hispanic patients to 82.5% among Black or African American patients. Neither race nor ethnicity was independently associated with real-world progression-free or overall survival after adjustment.

The authors attributed the higher ORR partly to the predominantly community oncology setting and differences in line of therapy and cited limitations including the retrospective design, small subgroup sizes, and the absence of collected safety data.

HFpEF Is Missed at Referral, But Not Untreatable: Mark Belkin, MD

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is frequently missed because clinicians stop investigating once an echocardiogram shows a preserved ejection fraction, not because treatment options are lacking, according to Mark Belkin, MD, of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Belkin noted that more than 6.7 million people in the US have heart failure, a figure projected to reach about 8 million by 2030, with roughly half having HFpEF, while only about 1500 advanced heart failure specialists practice nationally; as a result, he said general cardiologists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, and primary care physicians must share responsibility for care.

He said the nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) finerenone offers the strongest evidence when coexisting chronic kidney disease and diabetes are considered, though spironolactone remains a reasonable option when finerenone is not covered. Belkin added that incretin-based therapies and AI-driven patient identification show promise but still require positive phase 3 trial results and further validation, respectively, before entering guidelines.