Parking fees at hospitals contribute to ‘financial toxicity’ for cancer patients: Study

Cancer care providers and hospitals need to be more aware of the “financial toxicity” that eats away at the bank accounts of patients seeking life-saving care, especially the parking fees that may accompany their hospital visits, a new study found. The study found cities with better public transportation have less free parking for patients, with the opposite being true for cities with poor public transportation systems. “There’s not a lot of awareness about financial toxicity in cancer care,” said Al Balushi. And in 2006, the highest out-of-pocket cost associated with cancer treatment in Ontario was found to be related to parking fees, a study found. If universal free parking isn’t an option, Al Balushi suggests using screening tools to detect patients and families who are at risk of experiencing financial toxicity, and providing them with vouchers, discounted or free parking.