Clearly as the population ages the need for oncology services will increase. The only question to ask is
will there be money to pay for this increased need and where will it come from in this economy?
The ongoing debate between the Republicans and Democrats over health care really centers on whether it should happen at all and if it does who will pay for the additional 30,000,000 people to be insured.
Concerns have been expressed that the cost will be covered by cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Any cuts
to these programs by politicians has long been considered political suicide. To deflect any attacks from opponents of
their program the administration states:
"The Act will protect and preserve Medicare as a commitment to America’s seniors. ...The Act takes important steps to make sure that we can keep the commitment of Medicare for the next generation of seniors ....Medicare is a sacred trust with America’s seniors, and this Act preserves it." I can feel the love.
Another attack is that the program will increase the financial burden on states and the federal government but they counter
that " It will save thousands of dollars in drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries by closing the coverage gap called the “donut hole.” Doctors, nurses and hospitals will be incentivized to improve care and reduce unnecessary errors that harm patients."
they even propose that this program will save the public money by "ending massive overpayments to insurance companies that cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars per year. "
A good bet is that , it will cost more than they think, and the savings will be less. However, it is abundantly clear that
the escalation in health care costs is unsustainable and the current economic climate is exacerbating the problem.
When millions lose their jobs the also lose their health insurance, a dire circumstance for many who are the most
vulnerable, the young, old and those suffering from poverty.
Growing Demand
A recent study states the number of oncologists has more than doubled over the past two decades, supply is
projected to only increase 20% between now and 2020. Demand for oncology services is expected to grow by 48%
during the same time. Projections were based on current cancer rates and delivery patterns
applied to the expected U.S. population in 2020. Without a dramatic change in cancer
care treatment or delivery between now and 2020, the nation is will face an acute
shortage of oncologists.*
There are about 13,000 oncologists practicing in the United States. Over half of all oncologists
are aged 50 or older and will be 65 or older by the year 2020. About 500 fellows a year complete an
oncology fellowship, and oncology program directors report limited plans to increase the number
of training slots between now and the 2010-11 academic year.*
Oncology primarily provides care to one segment of the population, the growing population of people aged 65 or older.Additionally,as treatment has become more successful there are more Cancer survivors to treat for longer periods of time
whcih contributes to an increase in need and demand for oncologists. In fact, Cancer survivors make up a significant proportion of overall cancer visits. *
As a result, the supply of and demand for oncologists is projected to move from a relative state of balance in
2005 to a state of acute shortage in 2020, with visit demand growing at a much quicker pace than
the available visit supply.*
*American Society of Clinical Oncology commissioned the Center for Workforce
Studies at the Association of American Medical Colleges
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