A literature review published in The American Journal of Public Health finds that greater use of community oncology care can substantially reduce cancer-related financial toxicity while delivering care quality equivalent to, and in some cases better than, hospital-based settings.
Lucio N. Gordan, MD, of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute and the study’s first author, discussed the review’s key findings in an interview with Targeted Oncology, highlighting the economic and logistical advantages of community oncology as a primary strategy to reduce financial burden.
The review found surprising magnitudes of cost savings in community settings, with reductions ranging from the upper 20% to the upper 70% across studies. Chemotherapy costs were reported 30% to 40% lower and immunotherapy drugs 25% to 30% less expensive in community practices. Scaled across thousands of clinics and millions of patients, these disparities could translate into savings in the high billions of dollars.
Lower costs in community practices did not correspond with reduced quality. The review reports that community-based care is clinically equivalent to hospital systems and, in some measures, superior—patients treated in community clinics experienced shorter hospital stays and fewer emergency department visits.
Community oncology also improves access by providing specialized care closer to patients’ homes. For payers, community practices offer efficiencies through lower administrative and drug costs, supporting both cost containment and high-quality standards and contributing to the long-term sustainability of cancer care.
Reference: Gordan L, Singh-Bulkan HHN, Warner A, et al. The role of utilizing community oncology care to decrease cancer-related financial toxicity. Am J Public Health. 2025;14(1):1‑7. doi:10.52338/tajoph.2025.5171
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