title: [Awareness about medical expenses and certifications of eligibility for limited health insurance payments for chemotherapy among clinicians at the Ehime Cancer Care Network Priority Hospitals (Ehime Cancer Kyoten Hospitals)].
abstract: The "Cancer Chemotherapy and its Management" subcommittee at the Ehime Cancer Care Network Priority Hospitals (Ehime Cancer Kyoten Hospitals)with a focus on medical expenses associated with chemotherapy, surveyed awareness among 98 clinicians regarding certifications of eligibility for Limited Health Insurance Payments during cancer treatment. This committee also lists social and clinical problems encountered at the Ehime Cancer Care Network Priority Hospitals. In our survey, 78% of clinicians were consulted about medical expenses associated with chemotherapy and were actively involved in resolving medical expense problems and resulting correspondences. However, only 38% of clinicians could explain the details of the Japanese guideline on the catastrophic cap and the certifications of eligibility for Limited Health Insurance Payments. This knowledge deficit was more pronounced in younger residents. From our analyses of the awareness about medical expenses among clinicians, we recommend the establishment of the following systems for the management of cancer patients. First, establish a reporting system and early consultation on the catastrophic cap and the certifications of eligibility before initiating cancer treatment. Second, education regarding medical expenses should be mandatory for clinicians, especially for young residents. Third, patients with cancer suffering in the interval of the medical expense and the social system should be relieved with new systems.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, Ehime University Hospital.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yakushijin
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Tetsuaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuhisa
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawazoe
authors.forename: You
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Kenzou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Haruhito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.forename: Masamichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanimizu
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinkai
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007564:Japan; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents