Dr. Prakash discusses disparities in cancer care with Texas policy makers || Sponsored by Quality Roofing
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Dr. Sucharu Prakash, Medical Director- Texas Oncology, was an expert speaker at “Biotexas Cafe- Access to Precision Medicine”. He gave his unique perspective on disparities in access to cancer care and challenges faced by patients in rural communities such as Paris. Prakash brought forth his blend of expertise in Precision Medicine and Rural Health to this discussion. This web meeting was held on March 9, 2022, and focused on biomarker testing education and how Texas policymakers can ensure all Texans have access to innovative treatments. BioTexas Cafe meetings aim to educate Texas policymakers on the latest innovations and policy issues impacting Texas patients, and the Texas life sciences industry. THBI members, patient groups, Texas State Legislators and staff, the Texas Congressional delegation and staff, and state agency staff typically attend. This meeting was sponsored by Amgen and THBI.
Prakash said “Even though Precision Medicine has revolutionized cancer care, many patients are losing out, especially in rural communities and underserved areas. Challenges to access include lack of insurance coverage, inadequate testing infrastructure, lack of specialty care and outdated treatment guidelines”.
“Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. It is also one of the costliest diseases to treat. Through advancements in research and technology, new, more cost-effective targeted cancer therapies can be customized for a patient’s treatment based on factors such as genomic profile and physical environment through biomarker testing. These treatments are known as precision, or personalized medicine and can help determine the best treatment for a patient. While precision medicine and biomarkers are a fairly new option for patients, some research has shown biomarkers have potential to decrease treatment costs and improve patient survival and quality of life. Despite evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of biomarker testing and targeted therapy, currently not all individuals benefit equitably from these advances. In a 2021 survey, 66% of oncology providers reported that insurance coverage for biomarker testing is a significant or moderate barrier to appropriate biomarker testing. There are also notable racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities to accessing and utilizing of these advancements in care. These disparities in access and use of biomarker testing and targeted therapy can potentially widen existing disparities in cancer survival”.
Dr. Prakash is recognized as a leader in his field. He is the President-elect of Texas Society of Clinical Oncology and the Chair of Quality for Texas Oncology. He also serves on ASCO’s Rural Cancer care Task Force and TMA’s Committee on Cancer. Chris Prakash has been with Texas Oncology Paris since 2000 and has made it his goal to improve cancer care for all Texans.
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