Accessing healthcare in rural areas presents unique challenges, particularly for patients facing the financial burden of cancer treatment. For Oregon and Washington, the percentage of the population living in rural or frontier communities is 35% and 14% respectively. To address this, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute partnered with Atlas Health to implement a proactive patient financial assistance program designed to ease financial hardships and expand access to cancer care for underserved rural populations.

Leveraging Atlas Health’s AI-driven platform and a team of dedicated patient advocates, OHSU significantly improved access to financial aid for rural patients. From December 15, 2023, to March 31, 2024, OHSU Infusion Centers in Washington and Oregon treated 1,668 patients living in rural areas. 122 of these patients received financial assistance awards. In less than four months, the program secured more than $599,000 in aid for all patients—offering much-needed relief in a landscape where nearly 40% of Americans cannot afford a $1,000 emergency medical bill.

This initiative not only eased financial pressures for patients but also reduced OHSU’s uncompensated care, highlighting the transformative potential of proactive financial assistance programs. This partnership exemplifies how healthcare systems can utilize technology and advocacy to bridge disparities and enhance access to care for vulnerable communities.

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Abstract: Access to patient assistance programs for rural cancer patients in an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center: A retrospective cohort study.

Accessing healthcare in rural areas presents unique challenges, particularly for patients facing the financial burden of cancer treatment. For Oregon and Washington, the percentage of the population living in rural or frontier communities is 35% and 14% respectively. To address this, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute partnered with Atlas Health to implement a proactive patient financial assistance program designed to ease financial hardships and expand access to cancer care for underserved rural populations.

Leveraging Atlas Health’s AI-driven platform and a team of dedicated patient advocates, OHSU significantly improved access to financial aid for rural patients. From December 15, 2023, to March 31, 2024, OHSU Infusion Centers in Washington and Oregon treated 1,668 patients living in rural areas. 122 of these patients received financial assistance awards. In less than four months, the program secured more than $599,000 in aid for all patients—offering much-needed relief in a landscape where nearly 40% of Americans cannot afford a $1,000 emergency medical bill.

This initiative not only eased financial pressures for patients but also reduced OHSU’s uncompensated care, highlighting the transformative potential of proactive financial assistance programs. This partnership exemplifies how healthcare systems can utilize technology and advocacy to bridge disparities and enhance access to care for vulnerable communities.

View Poster Presentation

Abstract: Access to patient assistance programs for rural cancer patients in an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center: A retrospective cohort study.

Accessing healthcare in rural areas presents unique challenges, particularly for patients facing the financial burden of cancer treatment. For Oregon and Washington, the percentage of the population living in rural or frontier communities is 35% and 14% respectively. To address this, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute partnered with Atlas Health to implement a proactive patient financial assistance program designed to ease financial hardships and expand access to cancer care for underserved rural populations.

Leveraging Atlas Health’s AI-driven platform and a team of dedicated patient advocates, OHSU significantly improved access to financial aid for rural patients. From December 15, 2023, to March 31, 2024, OHSU Infusion Centers in Washington and Oregon treated 1,668 patients living in rural areas. 122 of these patients received financial assistance awards. In less than four months, the program secured more than $599,000 in aid for all patients—offering much-needed relief in a landscape where nearly 40% of Americans cannot afford a $1,000 emergency medical bill.

This initiative not only eased financial pressures for patients but also reduced OHSU’s uncompensated care, highlighting the transformative potential of proactive financial assistance programs. This partnership exemplifies how healthcare systems can utilize technology and advocacy to bridge disparities and enhance access to care for vulnerable communities.

View Poster Presentation

Abstract: Access to patient assistance programs for rural cancer patients in an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center: A retrospective cohort study.

Accessing healthcare in rural areas presents unique challenges, particularly for patients facing the financial burden of cancer treatment. For Oregon and Washington, the percentage of the population living in rural or frontier communities is 35% and 14% respectively. To address this, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute partnered with Atlas Health to implement a proactive patient financial assistance program designed to ease financial hardships and expand access to cancer care for underserved rural populations.

Leveraging Atlas Health’s AI-driven platform and a team of dedicated patient advocates, OHSU significantly improved access to financial aid for rural patients. From December 15, 2023, to March 31, 2024, OHSU Infusion Centers in Washington and Oregon treated 1,668 patients living in rural areas. 122 of these patients received financial assistance awards. In less than four months, the program secured more than $599,000 in aid for all patients—offering much-needed relief in a landscape where nearly 40% of Americans cannot afford a $1,000 emergency medical bill.

This initiative not only eased financial pressures for patients but also reduced OHSU’s uncompensated care, highlighting the transformative potential of proactive financial assistance programs. This partnership exemplifies how healthcare systems can utilize technology and advocacy to bridge disparities and enhance access to care for vulnerable communities.

View Poster Presentation

Abstract: Access to patient assistance programs for rural cancer patients in an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center: A retrospective cohort study.

Accessing healthcare in rural areas presents unique challenges, particularly for patients facing the financial burden of cancer treatment. For Oregon and Washington, the percentage of the population living in rural or frontier communities is 35% and 14% respectively. To address this, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute partnered with Atlas Health to implement a proactive patient financial assistance program designed to ease financial hardships and expand access to cancer care for underserved rural populations.

Leveraging Atlas Health’s AI-driven platform and a team of dedicated patient advocates, OHSU significantly improved access to financial aid for rural patients. From December 15, 2023, to March 31, 2024, OHSU Infusion Centers in Washington and Oregon treated 1,668 patients living in rural areas. 122 of these patients received financial assistance awards. In less than four months, the program secured more than $599,000 in aid for all patients—offering much-needed relief in a landscape where nearly 40% of Americans cannot afford a $1,000 emergency medical bill.

This initiative not only eased financial pressures for patients but also reduced OHSU’s uncompensated care, highlighting the transformative potential of proactive financial assistance programs. This partnership exemplifies how healthcare systems can utilize technology and advocacy to bridge disparities and enhance access to care for vulnerable communities.

View Poster Presentation

Abstract: Access to patient assistance programs for rural cancer patients in an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center: A retrospective cohort study.