Access denied: CMS' action hurts patients with cancer in rural America

In 2020, cancer claimed more than 600,000 lives in the US. Cancer is an unyielding public health crisis. Cancer treatments typically involve multidisciplinary approaches, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and oral medications. For patients, especially those in rural areas, obtaining multiple oral medications can be inconvenient. The adoption of delivering cancer medications from medically integrated pharmacies (MIPs) has become popular in recent years. On May 12, 2023, CMS introduced guidelines restricting MIPs from delivering cancer-specific medications by mail or to oncology satellite offices and also requiring patients themselves to pick up the medications in person. This regulatory change has had a devastating impact on patients with cancer in rural and underserved communities, exacerbating existing health care disparities. This commentary explores the negative impacts of the policy change by CMS in rural America.