Financial Tools Research Articles

Avoid Year-End Operating Loan Pitfalls

As the year draws to a close, many producers rely on operating loans, or lines of credit, to finance essential expenses when cash flow is tight. These loans function like credit cards but usually come with lower interest rates. An operating loan is a short-term financing tool — often lasting less than a year — designed to help manage business cash flow. Borrowers are usually granted a pre-set limit they can draw from and repay multiple times throughout the year, primarily for purchasing inputs rather than long-term assets like land or equipment. However, as the year ends, it's crucial to navigate the potential pitfalls associated with these loans. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind.

Advancing financial inclusion through digital payment platforms in emerging markets

Advancing financial inclusion in emerging markets has become a critical focus for economic development, and digital payment platforms are playing a transformative role in this process. These platforms offer a scalable solution to bridge the gap between the unbanked population and formal financial services, enabling individuals and businesses to access affordable and secure financial products. The rise of mobile technology and widespread internet penetration have provided the infrastructure for digital payments to thrive, particularly in regions where traditional banking systems are underdeveloped. Key enablers include mobile money services, fintech innovations, and supportive regulatory frameworks that promote adopting digital financial solutions. Digital payment platforms facilitate faster, more efficient transactions, reduce the reliance on cash, and open up opportunities for marginalized groups, including women and small business owners, to participate in the formal economy. They also enhance financial literacy by offering accessible financial education tools, which empower users to manage their finances more effectively. However, challenges such as limited digital literacy, regulatory barriers, cybersecurity risks, and the digital divide must be addressed to maximize the potential of these platforms. Emerging markets have witnessed significant success stories, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, where mobile money platforms like M-Pesa and GCash have expanded financial access to millions. These platforms contribute to financial inclusion and stimulate economic growth by integrating more people into the financial system. Moving forward, collaborative efforts between governments, private sector stakeholders, and development organizations are essential to ensuring that digital payment platforms continue to drive financial inclusion sustainably and equitably.. Keywords: Financial Inclusion, Digital Payment Platforms, Emerging Markets, Mobile Money, Fintech, Unbanked Population, Economic Development, Financial Literacy, Digital Financial Services, Mobile Technology.

Financial mechanisms for energy transitions: review article

PurposeThe transition from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable energy sources, commonly referred to as the energy transition, is essential for combating climate change. However, comprehensive studies that thoroughly examine the financial mechanisms involved in this process are lacking. Despite the availability of various financial tools, there is a notable absence of extensive research that synthesizes and categorizes these mechanisms into broad groups.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review is used to explore a comprehensive framework for financial mechanisms related to the energy transition and their application across six stages of the process.FindingsThe framework of financial mechanisms for energy transition encompasses these six factors: public financing mechanisms, private financing mechanisms, market-based mechanisms, innovative financing mechanisms, risk mitigation instruments and institutional support and capacity building.Originality/valueThis is the first study that thoroughly reviewed the financial mechanisms involved in the energy transition process.

Climate Finance: Pioneering Pathways to Sustainability

Climate finance is a progressive financial tool to foster sustainability and address climate change mitigation and adaptation challenges. This study delineates the notion of climate finance and sustainability, illustrating their confluence and its impact on social welfare, ecological quality, and economic well-being. Climate financing involves distributing resources to environmentally sustainable enterprises and projects designed to harmonize economic growth with sustainability. Furthermore, developed nations have committed to offering financial assistance to developing nations to confront the problems presented by climate change. This paper aims to decode the confluence of climate finance and sustainability. Moreover, it underscores the significance of climate financing in tackling environmental issues, reaching carbon neutrality, and eventually realizing sustainable development. The finding indicates that climate finance is essential for addressing climate change and achieving sustainability, highlighting the significant role of developed nations and the private sector in closing the funding gap required for investments in climate-resilient projects and infrastructure. Consequently, this can generate possibilities for people and nations to earn carbon credits, which are tradable in carbon markets, thereby securing financial benefits.

Prerequisites of hybridization of university financing as a tool for ensuring sustainability and strategic development

Purpose. To assess the state of budget financing of Ukrainian HEIs, determine their funding structure, and identify prerequisites for developing hybrid financing as a tool for stability and strategic development. Methodology. Dynamic and structural analysis, the Hirschman-Herfindahl index (HHI(DI) and such methods as quantitative, arithmetic mean, limit values, graphic, visualization, and system methods were used in the research process. The practical testing of research hypotheses was carried out on the basis of a comprehensive approach to the financing of HEIs of Ukraine and a panel sample of 35 universities, which takes into account rating indicators, industry and regional aspects. Findings. Transformation processes at various levels are linked to trends such as reduced budget funding, structural changes, staff and student migration, decreased demand for additional services, and military factors, creating prerequisites for hybrid university funding. The article identifies conditions for hybrid financing, highlights negative trends in HEIs budget financing –including systemic underperformance and inflation impacts – and analyzes income diversification in Ukrainian universities using the HHI(DI). Limiting and average values were determined using the quantitative method, which made it possible to classify universities into sustainable (HHI(DI)  0.55) and risky (HHI(DI) > 0.55) ones; tendencies towards a slight diversification of universities’ incomes are revealed; a conceptual model is proposed of hybrid financing of universities to expand their financial autonomy, based on cooperation between university management, stakeholders, and staff core, with the aim of creating value propositions which satisfy the needs of stakeholders and generate cash flows; a new approach to the division of hybrid financing tools into three groups is proposed: passive or image-based, active-intellectual, and passive-innovative ones. This approach is innovative in the development of financial strategies for universities. Originality. New tools for making management decisions aimed at ensuring financial stability and developing financial strategies for universities are proposed. In particular, they include an original approach to the classification of universities into sustainable and risky ones based on the value of the HHI; the conceptual model of hybrid financing of universities, which promotes the expansion of their financial autonomy; the innovative approach to the division of hybrid financing instruments into three categories: passive or image-based, active-intellectual, passive-innovative. Practical value. The study’s results can be used to make management decisions on expanding financial autonomy of universities. The introduction of the conceptual model of hybrid financing will contribute to the diversification of income, increase in financing, as well as ensuring financial stability and strategic development of universities.

Effectiveness of Productive Waqf Management in Improving the Welfare of the Poor: A Bibliometric Review

This bibliometric study examines the evolution and thematic concentration within the field of productive waqf management from 2000 to 2024, employing a comprehensive analysis of academic publications to understand the dynamic interplay between Islamic philanthropy and socio-economic development. Through the utilization of citation metrics and VOSviewer tools, the study reveals significant growth in research focusing on the integration of traditional Islamic charitable mechanisms with modern financial tools, notably micro waqf banks and zakat, aimed at enhancing community welfare and poverty alleviation. Collaborative networks among scholars indicate robust intellectual communities with concentrated expertise in specific thematic areas. The findings emphasize the potential of productive waqf in supporting broader economic and social objectives, including alignment with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and highlight the emerging trend of leveraging technology to increase the transparency and efficiency of waqf management. Challenges in governance and professional management are identified as critical areas needing attention to maximize the impact of waqf. The study proposes future research directions focused on empirical evaluations and the potential impacts of technological innovations in waqf management.

Towards a Better Uncertainty Quantification in Automated Valuation Models

AbstractThis study introduces a novel framework for quantifying prediction uncertainty in automated valuation models (AVMs), crucial tools in modern real estate finance. While non-linear AVMs excel in predictive performance, their limited methods for assessing prediction uncertainty reduces reliability and practical utility. We address this gap by proposing an approach for quantifying the uncertainty associated with predicted house prices and by introducing a model-specific AVM uncertainty estimate (AVMU) for AVM comparisons. Using a dataset of 51,747 historical apartment transactions in Oslo, Norway, we train three AVMs (XGBoost, random forest, support vector machine) to predict sales prices. Thereafter, we develop three base uncertainty estimators (direct loss estimation, bootstrap ensemble, quantile regression) and three meta estimators (average regressor, voting regressor, stacked generalization) for uncertainty quantification. Conformal calibration aligns the outputted uncertainty estimates from the six estimators with standard deviations of corresponding prediction errors. Having strong positive correlations with observed absolute prediction errors, the calibrated uncertainty estimators are shown to effectively capture prediction uncertainty. While the direct loss estimation excels among base estimators, the voting regressor and stacked generalization meta estimators consistently outperform it. Furthermore, by using the AVMU estimate from the stacked generalization meta estimator we can successfully identify the best-performing AVM for three separate apartment portfolios without knowing true sales prices. This alignment of the mean estimated prediction uncertainty with observed deviations underlines the utility of pre-factual AVMU estimates for model comparisons. In conclusion, our framework helps bridge prediction accuracy and uncertainty for AVMs, enhancing their reliability and supporting informed decision making for stakeholders.

An integrated approach using discrete event simulation and design of experiments for working capital management in the fuel retail trade

ABSTRACT This study introduces an innovative approach to Working Capital Management (WCM) in the fuel retail sector, using Discrete Event Simulation (DES) and Design of Experiments (DOE). Efficient WCM is essential for small businesses, particularly in fuel retailing with its tight margins and intense competition. Unlike static financial tools relying on historical data, DES interacts with indicators such as Working Capital Requirement (WCR) and Liquidity Ratios, providing stochastic and accurate information. The study examined three variables (Supplier Payment Deadline, Credit Card Receipt Deadline, and Customer Payment Profile) across 16 experimental scenarios. The Payment Term to Suppliers emerged as the key factor in reducing WCR. Despite lower liquidity potential, the company balanced short-term obligations, identifying optimal WCM scenarios. The study shifts WCM analysis from static data to forecasted, real-time data, supporting dynamic business decision-making. It concludes that DES is a valuable tool for effective WCM in fuel retail, encouraging further research.

Financing Sustainability: Unveiling the Role of Government Debt in Carbon Reduction Performance

The existing literature on government debt has predominantly focused on its influence on economic growth, with relatively limited attention paid to its ecological implications. Government debt, as an important financial tool, plays an essential role in improving the quality of economic development, yet its impact on sustainable governance remains underexplored. Against this backdrop, this paper investigates the relationship between government debt and carbon reduction using a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2010 to 2023. After excluding missing and financial firm data, our final sample includes 26,535 observations. We obtained these data from the China Security Market Accounting Research (CSMAR) database and the Wind database. This study utilizes ordinary least squares (OLS) as the baseline regression and identifies a significant positive impact of government debt on carbon emissions. Further, the moderating analysis suggests that the positive impact of government debt on carbon reduction is particularly stronger in state-owned (SOEs) and heavily polluting enterprises. To ensure the robustness of these findings, we also use fixed-effects models and the generalized method of moments (GMM), validating the consistency of the findings. This research provides critical practical and theoretical insights for regulators and adds to the prevailing body of literature on emissions reduction.

Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance and Environmental Regulation on Eco‐Efficiency of Farmland Utilization in China

ABSTRACTThe farmland pollution has threatened the lifeblood of people's livelihoods through the soil‐to‐crop system, and the resulting food safety risks are becoming more and more pronounced. Digital inclusive finance (DIF) can provide convenient financial services for the eco‐transformation of farmland utilization. This study analyzed the spatial evolution pattern of eco‐efficiency of farmland utilization (EEFU) and DIF, empirically tested the impact of DIF on EEFU, and discussed the impact of DIF on EEFU with changes in the level of environmental regulatory intensity based on panel data from 2011 to 2022 in China. The results found that the development of EEFU and DIF is increasing, and the polarization phenomenon is constantly easing, but the absolute differences between different provinces in China have an expanding trend. DIF can improve the EEFU, and this promotion effect is more pronounced in eastern and central China, non‐grain‐producing areas, and areas with low levels of financial development. DIF will not be able to improve EEFU until environmental regulation has reached a certain level. China should fully leverage the positive role of DIF and environmental regulations in promoting the EEFU, provide more differentiated financial products, financial tools, and financial models for the eco‐transformation of farmland utilization, and explore a path for eco‐transformation of farmland utilization that complements environmental regulations and development of market‐inclusive finance.

The Effectiveness of Asset Pricing Models Under Special Conditions: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Emerging Markets, and Financial Crises

Asset pricing models are important tools in finance. However, special market conditions can make them highly ineffective. This paper evaluates the performance of classical asset pricing models (that is, CAPM and Fama-French models) under three specific scenarios: the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging markets, and financial crises. Recent research and market data are reviewed to conclude that these models have very low efficiency in times of extreme occurrences for capturing proper asset valuations. Our findings reveal that standard models lose a substantial part of their explanatory power in periods of crises while new context-specific risk factors come into existence in other exceptional conditions. This work argues for the inclusion of liquidity and tail risk considerations, especially during market stress, as we also observe a greater need for more dynamic and adaptive modeling approaches that capture time-varying risk premia and factor loadings. The findings drive home the point that standard asset pricing models cannot be applied across the board in all market conditions and stress the need for developing more flexible and situation-specific valuation tools. Therefore, this research lies in its dual contribution, both in academic terms and practical finance, by providing an understanding of the behavior of asset pricing models in extreme markets and giving indications for future model development.

Highlighting the Urgent Need for Reforms in the Face of Financial Failures at State-Owned Enterprises in Iraq

General Background: The financial analysis of companies' reports is critical for assessing their past performance, forecasting future results, and identifying operational strengths and weaknesses. Specific Background: Financial failure, which occurs when a company cannot generate adequate returns to cover costs and capital expenses, poses significant risks to stakeholders. For state-owned companies, the implications of financial failure are especially profound, given their integral role in national economies, such as Iraq's. Knowledge Gap: There is limited understanding of the extent to which state-owned companies in Iraq utilize financial analysis to predict financial failure, particularly in the context of economic transitions and privatization pressures. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the dependence of Iraqi state-owned companies on financial analysis as a predictive tool for financial distress and to identify the key factors contributing to their financial failures. Results: The research reveals that 42% of the companies examined have experienced financial failure, as measured by the Argenti index. Contributing factors include employment challenges, insufficient financing, and the transition from a socialist to a capitalist economy, which has left companies vulnerable to privatization. Novelty: The study provides novel insights into how economic transition impacts the financial stability of state-owned companies, highlighting the practical application of the Argenti index in diagnosing financial weaknesses. Implications: The findings underscore the urgent need to support state-owned enterprises by revitalizing the industrial sector, improving administrative efficiency, and adopting more systematic financial analysis tools. Additionally, the research recommends creating an accessible information center for investors and creditors, which would enhance transparency and support decision-making. This approach could help mitigate financial distress and attract new investment, ultimately contributing to Iraq’s economic recovery. Highlights: Financial analysis helps predict failures in state-owned companies. 42% of companies fail, based on the Argenti index. Privatization and economic shifts increase financial risk. Keywords: Financial analysis, Argenti index, state-owned companies, financial failure, privatization

A Research on the Development Status of Green Finance in China

China's green finance has become one of the important tools to promote sustainable economic development. This review first analyzes the environmental, social and governance (ESG) situation of chemical companies, which are high-energy-consuming and high-pollution companies that mainly use green financial instruments. Carbon emissions and pollutant emissions, safety of employees and surrounding residents, and legal and ethical issues were discussed to illustrate the chemical industries situation. Then, this paper focused on the application of three green finance tools, green financing, green bonds and green insurance in Chinese capital market. Finally, this paper introduces the green financial incentive policies launched by the Chinese government and where the policies still need to be improved. Through the review of the above aspects, this paper concludes that China's green financial development has made significant progress, but it still needs to keep improve green financial products and face the challenges of more applications in other industries.

Research on the influence of green finance policy on enterprise green innovation

At present, China's economy has entered a new normal, and policies with economic growth as the core can no longer meet the needs of social development. In recent years, China has vigorously promoted the green transformation of economic development, and the construction of a green innovation system has become the only way to improve the ecological environment and promote green development. Green finance, as a financial tool providing services for green industries such as energy conservation, emission reduction and pollution prevention and control, plays an important role in the process of economic green transformation. Green Finance Reform and Innovation Pilot Zone is the latest practice of green finance policy system construction. Under this background, this paper takes the establishment of our country’s Green Finance Reform Innovation Experimental Zone as a quasi-natural experiment, and adopts the panel data of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2022, this paper discusses the impact of Green Finance Policy on enterprise green innovation by means of multi-period double difference model. The study found that the policy has an obvious driving effect on enterprise green innovation, and the conclusion passed the parallel trend test and placebo test; in addition, the mechanism test results show that the stronger the financing constraints, the promotion effect of green financial innovation policy may weaken.

Letters of Credit: a Finance Tool for Managing Cash Flow in the Muntinlupa City Business Community

In the 1800s, the Letters of credit materialized in Europe and grew purposely to serve international trade, which flourished since the 1700s despite the non-uniformity of national laws. The reviews of related literature and studies conducted by the researcher, identified various gaps concerning the use of letters of credit: First, there were no studies conducted yet concerning the use of letters of credit as a financial tool for managing cash flow amongst the Business Community in Muntinlupa, City; and, Secondly, no studies were done in the City of Muntinlupa correlating letters of credit as a financial tool in managing cash flow. These led to the development of this pioneering research study in the City of Muntinlupa. This descriptive study aimed to determine the openness of the businesses, banks, and government agencies in the Alabang Muntinlupa area to use letters of credit as a mode of payment to effectively manage the company’s cash outflow. The study had 35 automobile companies and bank financing companies as its primary respondents. The researcher used Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient for Likert-type scales data analysis tool to test the internal consistency of the questionnaire. A high correlation signaled high internal consistency. There was a significant relationship between the perceived effectiveness of a Letter of Credit and the perceived awareness of benefits, risk factors, and source of funds for letters of credit.

HARVESTING INSIGHTS: THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TRANSFORMING AGRICULTURAL FINANCE

The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and agricultural finance has emerged as a transformative force in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of farming practices. This review article explores the multifaceted applications of AI technologies in agricultural finance, focusing on credit scoring, risk assessment, and financial decision-making for farmers and agricultural businesses. We examine the integration of machine learning algorithms and big data analytics in providing tailored financial products, enabling precision agriculture, and improving access to credit in under banked communities. By synthesizing current literature and case studies, we identify key challenges and opportunities, such as the need for data security, transparency, and the democratization of AI tools in rural finance. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of AI to address climate change impacts on agriculture and its implications for financing sustainable practices. This article aims to provide stakeholders in the agricultural finance sector—policymakers, financial institutions, and technology developers—with a comprehensive understanding of how AI can drive innovation and improvement in financing agricultural activities, ultimately fostering a resilient and sustainable food system.

Impact of a Comprehensive Financial Navigation Intervention to Reduce Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity.

Although the need to reduce the impact of financial toxicity among patients with cancer is widely acknowledged, few interventions have been developed to address this issue. We tested a novel, multiphase, patient-centered financial navigation (FN) intervention at a large academic medical center. We developed a financial toxicity screening tool consisting of the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) measure plus several additional items based on patient feedback. After systematizing the screening process, 50 patients from the North Carolina Basnight Cancer Hospital were enrolled in the FN intervention following a positive screen for financial distress (COST score <23). The FN intervention involved one-on-one consultations with a trained financial navigator and included an initial comprehensive intake appointment to determine patient eligibility for financial assistance and follow-up appointments to discuss paperwork and application(s) status. We assessed preliminary intervention effectiveness (preintervention and postintervention COST scores) and implementation (ie, fidelity, uptake, acceptability). All 50 patients assessed for study eligibility screened positive for financial distress. A total of 46 patients completed both the preintervention and postintervention COST instrument and other measures. Postintervention mean COST scores improved from 6.4 at baseline to 13.3 post-FN (P<.0001), indicating a significant decrease in perceived financial toxicity. Fidelity to the intervention was high and 96% of participants received financial assistance. A patient-centered FN intervention fully integrated into an existing care coordination model can help to decrease the burden of cancer-related financial toxicity among patients with cancer experiencing financial distress. Further studies are needed to test FN interventions in various oncology settings and among targeted populations.

Validating a simplified financial toxicity screening tool for patients with cancer.

318 Background: Medical-related financial hardship (called financial toxicity) can negatively impact patient clinical outcomes and overall well-being. Routine financial toxicity screening is recommended to facilitate referrals to resources for patients experiencing, or at risk for, financial toxicity. The validated Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool is widely used in research to measure financial toxicity; however, its 11-question length and lack of standardized screening threshold make it challenging to implement in clinical practice. This analysis sought to develop and validate an abbreviated version of the tool, suitable for routine screening in clinical practice. Methods: The full COST was administered as part of clinical care from June 2022-August 2023. Patients receiving treatment for breast, gynecologic, thoracic, or gastrointestinal cancer at an urban comprehensive cancer center were queried via patient portal or in clinic. Using 38,330 observations, we calculated the correlation of abbreviated tools of varying length with the full COST score (0-44, lower scores=higher FT). We then used a validation dataset of 19,196 observations to assess the positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of an abbreviated tool against the full COST score, when compared to thresholds for risk previously used in the literature (score ≤15, ≤20). Results: Including two questions (Q3: “I worry about the financial problems I will have in the future as a result of my illness or treatment”; Q6: “I am satisfied with my current financial situation”) yielded r=0.922 correlation with the full COST. For this 2-item tool, PPV ranged from 74-91%, and NPV ranged from 91-98% when compared to the full COST tool. Table 1 shows the PPV and NPV of varying score thresholds for the abbreviated COST against full scores ≤15 and ≤20. Conclusions: Using a large and clinically diverse sample of patients with cancer,we demonstrate the predictive value of an abbreviated COST tool and show its approximate accuracy when compared to the full tool. Simplified, clinically integratedscreening for financial hardship can efficiently ensure appropriate intervention for patients experiencing medical-related financial hardship and can also be a first step toward mitigating hardship among those at risk for developing it. Predictive value of 2-item COST vs. full COST score in the validation set. Full COST score ≤ 15 Yes No 2-question, COST score ≤ 1 Yes 2337 (14%) 253 (1.5%) PPV = 90% No 822 (4.8%) 13844 (80%) 1-NPV = 5.6% Full COST score ≤ 15 Yes No 2-question, COST score ≤ 2 Yes 2924 (17%) 1045 (6.1%) PPV = 74% No 235 (1.4%) 13052 (76%) 1-NPV = 1.8% Full COST score ≤ 20 Yes No 2-question, COST score ≤ 2 Yes 3626 (21%) 343 (2.0%) PPV = 91% No 1199 (6.9%) 12088 (70%) 1-NPV = 9.0% Full COST score ≤ 20 Yes No 2-question, COST score ≤ 3 Yes 4359 (25%) 1272 (7.4%) PPV = 77% No 466 (2.7%) 11159 (65%) 1-NPV = 4.0%

Development of a tool to assess financial advocacy service delivery.

21 Background: In 2023, the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) Financial Advocacy Network published Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines developed through an expert-led, consensus-driven process (1). The Guidelines provide a framework for equitable delivery of financial advocacy (FA) services to address patients’ financial concerns. The Guidelines cover 3 domains: financial advocacy services and functions, program management functions, and partner engagement functions. ACCC adapted the Guidelines into a Financial Advocacy Services Assessment Tool to help cancer care organizations assess and improve service delivery and to advance research of organization-level FA practices across the U.S. Methods: ACCC convened an expert task force to guide this work. ACCC conducted a scan of implementation science literature and health care organizational assessments to inform the development of a rating system for each of the 43 guidelines. Four service delivery levels were identified, and a score was assigned to each level (Table). The tool was programmed in Qualtrics to provide a total score and average score per guideline for each FA domain and sub-domain. The task force added unscored questions about organizational demographics, barriers, and readiness to enable aggregate research and sub-group analysis. ACCC invited members of the Financial Advocacy Network to participate in a pilot via email invitation and provided opportunities for open-ended feedback. Results: 20 cancer centers participated in the pilot between March-May 2024. 15% were academic institutions and 85% were community-based programs (18% of which are directly affiliated with an academic institution). Respondents reported the tool was easy to use and informative for quality improvement efforts. See Table 1 for total scores for initial pilot. Conclusions: Pilot results reflect that all participating cancer centers are already engaged in some level of FA services. Broader dissemination and analysis is ongoing. The assessment provides centers with a practical resource to assess alignment to guidelines and identify opportunities for quality improvement. Regular review of aggregate results will help ACCC provide benchmarks for areas of service delivery, identify barriers to implementation, and monitor trends in FA staffing. 1. Kajdic Hodzic R, Liang MI, et al. Developing consensus-based oncology financial advocacy services guidelines. JCO Oncol Pract. 2023;19(suppl 11):38. Levels of FA service delivery and pilot total scores. Level Description % of pilot cancer centers Level 1 Not performing financial advocacy services. 0% Level 2 Making progress with financial advocacy services, but it is done informally or inconsistently. 35% Level 3 Performing financial advocacy services consistently in at least one key area of the organization. 60% Level 4 Reliably performing financial advocacy services across all key areas of the organization. 5%

Baseline practice-level financial screening processes and resources among Children’s Oncology Group National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Programs (NCORP).

34 Background: Financial toxicity is an increasingly recognized and prevalent adverse effect during cancer treatment. Systematic financial screening is recommended for families of children with cancer, and emerging data support the importance of system-level support and interventions to mitigate financial toxicity. Financial distress is a key, measurable domain of financial toxicity. Methods: To inform interventions for pediatric oncology settings, we are conducting ACCL20N1CD, a Children’s Oncology Group (COG) prospective, multilevel observational study among NCORP practices in the US, to determine the risk and trajectory for financial distress in guardians of children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We analyzed baseline survey data from COG NCORP practices that enrolled at least one parent. Data were collected via REDCap following the practice’s first parent enrollment. We describe practice participation patterns, current approaches to financial screening, and available resources to address identified needs including navigation. Results: Of 50 eligible COG NCORP practices, 40 (80%) activated the study, and 28 (56%) enrolled at least 1 participant and thus, completed the survey. Most (61%) of these practices treated 50-99 new pediatric oncology patients annually; 10 (36%) enrolled at least 5 participants in ACCL20N1CD. Twenty (71%) reported that their practice routinely conducted financial screening in addition to insurance assessment; 15 (75%) of these 20 practices conducted financial screening at more than one timepoint. Social workers were primarily responsible for screening (16/20; 80%). Only three practices (3/28; 11%) used a standardized financial screening tool. Most practices had access to a private foundation/organization (25/28, 89%), institutional support (23/28, 82%), or local referrals to organizations (22/28, 78%) that provided financial support for patients/families. Fewer practices had patient navigators (9/28, 32%), financial navigators (8/28, 28%), or legal advocates (3/28, 11%) available to assist families. Conclusions: Though most COG practices treating children of parents enrolled in 20N1CD conduct financial screening, processes are not standardized, and resources available to address identified needs and potentially mitigate financial toxicity vary. Further, these data represent enrolling sites which may overestimate screening practices within COG NCORP practices. Variations in financial screening procedures and lack of individual-level resources to facilitate screening may impact delivery of equitable high-quality cancer care across NCORP COG practices. Clinical trial information: NCT04928599 .