Trends in Medical Oncology Outreach Clinics in Rural Areas

Abstract

For more than 20 years, visiting medical oncologists have brought cancer care to rural patients in Iowa. Access to cancer care in rural Iowa (ie, clinic days) increased significantly in the post-Medicare Modernization Act period (after 2005). High participation rates and travel burdens may influence oncologist training and retention strategies. Because the Affordable Care Act seeks to expand access for vulnerable populations (eg, rural elderly), it is critical to better understand the existing system of rural cancer care delivery.