A Treatment-at-Home Pilot: Barriers to Home Cancer Care

Abstract

In Brief During the COVID-19 public health emergency, patients with cancer faced significant challenges presenting for their in-clinic visits. In-home administration of intramuscular and subcutaneous therapies provided an opportunity to deliver antineoplastic therapy while lowering infection risk. This quality improvement study of adult patients with neuroendocrine and breast cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was conducted from February 16, 2022, to October 14, 2022, and involved nurses delivering outpatient pharmacy-dispensed in-home intramuscular or subcutaneous treatments. The study concluded that while home administration of antineoplastic therapies was safe and patient-centric, administrative barriers—primarily pharmacy benefit denial—prevented the study from achieving its primary end point. As cancer care evolves, there should be a focus on regulatory changes that minimize financial and time toxicity and allow for patient convenience.