33507 Parking fees: A significant financial burden for phototherapy patients

Abstract

Phototherapy treatment for dermatologic conditions often requires 2 or 3 treatment sessions weekly at designated facilities. Nonmedical costs, such as parking fees, are associated with discontinuation of phototherapy. This cross-sectional study assesses the association between parking fees, cost of living, and transit access at phototherapy sites across the United States. Phototherapy sites affiliated with dermatology residency programs were identified. The following information for each site was ascertained: address, transit score, cost of living score, online public transit information, parking rates, and validation. Mean, median, and range of each score and Pearson correlations for binary variables were calculated. Of 343 phototherapy sites, 314 (91.5%) responded to information requests. Of participating sites, 69 (22.0%) did not offer phototherapy services. Parking fee information was obtained from 239 (70.0%) sites. 177 (74.1%) offered free or validated parking, and 78 (32.6%) displayed public transportation information on their website. Daily parking costs were positively correlated with cost of living (r2 = 0.102, P < .001) and transit scores (r2 = 0.055, P < .001). The average daily cost of parking was $3.29, amounting to $513.24 for patients completing 3 phototherapy sessions weekly per year. Parking fees represent a significant financial barrier to patients undergoing phototherapy treatment, especially if multiple times per week. Cities with a higher cost of living have less affordable parking, compounding financial barriers. With increased usage of phototherapy services among Medicare beneficiaries, it is important for clinicians to be aware of additional financial barriers, such as parking fees, that further contribute to health disparities in the population.