AlamogordoTownNews.org reports that a new study was just released made a finding that insurance coverage for Cannabis will ultimately be needed to ensure all patients can access it equally.
The study titled, Association of Financial Wellness with Patterns of Medical Cannabis Use and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Cancer, by Dylan Zylla Health Partners Cancer Research Center, Helen Parsons, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Jeanette Ziegenfuss, Health Partners Institute, Bruce Lindgren, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Susan Park Minnesota Department of Health, Patricia Jewett, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Arjun Gupta, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Anne Blaes, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota concluded that; patients with cancer using cannabis report significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms. High out-of-pocket costs for cannabis may be especially burdensome among those already financially struggling, raising questions about affordability of and equitable access to this therapy.
The report, published late last month in the journal Cannabis, looked at 220 responses to a survey of patients with cancer enrolled in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program.
In addition to asking questions about patients’ cancer histories, cannabis use and symptom changes, the survey also included sociodemographic questions.
While both the living comfortably (LC) and not living comfortably (NLC) groups “typically used cannabis daily and reported a high degree of symptom improvement,” the study says, patients in the NLC group “more often stopped or used cannabis less frequently as they would like (54% versus 32%), frequently citing costs as a reason (85% vs 39%).”
Patients who were not living comfortably under their current income also tended to be enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program for longer, make marijuana purchases more frequently and use more high-THC products versus their more financially comfortable counterparts.
“If cannabis is to be a broadly available way to alleviate symptom burden in patients with cancer,” authors of the new research added, “insurance coverage will ultimately be needed to ensure all patients can access it equally.”
H/T: www.newsbreak.com
