Addressing financial hardship in malignant hematology and hematopoietic cell transplant: a team approach

Financial hardship is a common experience for patients and their families after the diagnosis of a hematologic malignancy and is associated with worse outcomes. Health care costs, increased costs of living, income poverty, and inadequate wealth contribute to financial hardship after the diagnosis and treatment of a hematologic malignancy and/or hematopoietic cell transplant. Given the multidimensional nature of financial hardship, a multidisciplinary team-based approach is needed to address this public health hazard. Hematologists and oncologists may mitigate the impact of financial hardship by matching treatment options with patient goals of care and reducing symptom burden disruptive to employment. Social workers and financial navigators can assist with screening and resource deployment. Policymakers and researchers can identify structural and policy changes to prevent financial hardship. By alleviating this major health care burden from patients, care teams may improve survival and quality of life for patients with hematologic malignancies.