Summary
The aim of the study was to identify ongoing barriers to obtaining breast cancer care following the Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation in California. While the ACA successfully expanded access to health insurance and breast cancer care, numerous population subgroups remain uninsured, and others may lack adequate coverage for treatment and management of their breast cancer. In this study, the authors assessed barriers and challenges to accessing breast cancer care in California through a synthesis of the peer reviewed literature, gray literature (news media, reports and policy brief, social media), a legislative policy scan, and a series of key informant/stakeholder interviews.
Study authors identified five key types of barriers that women experience in receiving timely breast cancer care: 1) health system barriers, (2) insurance barriers, (3) high costs, (4) individual and cultural characteristics, and (5) language. This is an update of a Center report published in January 2017. New information from phase 2 of the project is included, involving interviews with health care providers as key stakeholders. Findings are reported by phase 1 and phase 2.
Publication Authors:
- Ninez A. Ponce, PhD, MPP
- Beth Glenn, PhD
- Riti Shimkhada, PhD
- AJ Scheitler, Ed.D.
- Michelle Ko MD, PhD