Estimated Indirect Cost Savings of Using Telehealth Among Nonelderly Patients With Cancer

JAMA Network Open: Estimated Indirect Cost Savings of Using Telehealth Among Nonelderly Patients With Cancer

This economic evaluation of cost savings from completed telehealth visits in a single-institution National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center found that telehealth saves time, travel, and money for patients. The main outcome was estimated patient cost savings from telehealth, which included two components: costs of travel and potential loss of productivity due to the medical visit. Telehealth was associated with savings in patient time and travel costs, which may reduce the financial toxicity of cancer care. Expansion of telehealth oncology services may be an effective strategy to reduce the financial burden among patients with cancer.