Travel Distance to Cancer Treatment Facilities in the Deep South

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Rural Health Disparities
• Healthcare Access

Background:

• Rural communities face persistent healthcare challenges, including provider shortages and limited infrastructure.
• Elderly rural populations experience significant barriers to accessing care due to travel and financial constraints.
• The Deep South region, known as the "cancer belt," exhibits higher cancer prevalence and mortality rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the average travel distances for rural elderly patients in the Deep South receiving treatment for prostate, breast, or colorectal cancer.
• To compare travel distances for rural versus urban cancer patients in the region.
• To identify specific cancer types with the longest travel distances for treatment.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Medicare claims data from beneficiaries in five Deep South states.
• Inclusion criteria: primary diagnosis of prostate, breast, or colorectal cancer between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2014.
• Comparison of travel distances between rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries.

Main Results:

• Rural Medicare beneficiaries in the Deep South travel significantly greater distances for cancer treatment compared to their urban counterparts.
• Travel distances to prostate cancer treatment facilities are notably longer than those for breast or colorectal cancer.
• Findings highlight significant geographic barriers to cancer care in the Deep South.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need to reduce travel distances to cancer treatment facilities for rural elderly patients in the Deep South.
• Addressing these disparities is vital for mitigating high cancer mortality rates in the region.
• Future efforts should focus on improving access to care for rural cancer patients, particularly for prostate cancer treatment.