Voices of a Broken System: Real People, Real Problems. President's Cancer Panel Report of the Chairman, 2000-2001

摘要

In 2000 and 2001, acting according to its legislative mandate, the Presidents Cancer Panel traveled to every region of the country to listen to the voices of cancer patients and survivors, family care givers, cancer patient advocates and volunteers, and to health care professionals who provide cancer care. The report summarizes their moving and unsparingly candid testimony, and presents the Panels recommendations for addressing the cancer care problems faced each day in every neighborhood in America. These problems are many. They include lack of health insurance - a dire problem faced by 44 million people inability to pay the out-of-pocket costs of cancer care, particularly oral medication costs$ public and private health plan restrictions$ physical distance from sources of care$ and lack of transportation. Relatively few people with cancer receive full, accurate, and understandable information about their disease, either from their health care providers or from other sources. These problems stem primarily from insufficient provider communication or knowledge, and from language, literacy, and cultural barriers. Moreover, bias based on cultural and racial differences far too often causes some providers to offer less than optimal care, and causes some patients to avoid accessing the care they need because of fear or mistrust.