EAQ222: CostCOM

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Cost Communication and Financial Navigation in Cancer Patients

Why consider participating in this study?

  • Research studies are an important way to test the effectiveness of new approaches for supporting patients being treated for cancer.
  • The usual approach for patients who are not in a study is to find out how much their cancer medication costs after undergoing treatment and receiving a bill. Furthermore, financial counseling is not routinely offered to all patients.
  • In EAQ222CD/CostCOM, patients will get an estimate of how much they’ll have to pay before starting their treatment. In addition, financial counseling will be offered.
  • This study aims to find out if providing this level of support can make it easier for patients to stick to their treatment plan and lower the financial stress that comes with cancer treatment.

What does this study involve?

  • If you decide to take part in this study, you will be assigned by chance (randomized) to one of two groups. Both groups will receive the usual care that is offered by the cancer clinic. You will have an equal chance of being in Group 1 or Group 2.

Group 1

  • You will receive a brochure with information about the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF). PAF is a non-profit organization that offers free financial counseling. They also help patients sign up for financial assistance programs, if needed.
  • You can find the contact information for PAF in the brochure, and can ask for their services

Group 2

  • You will have the opportunity to attend 4 free one-on-one financial navigation sessions with a financial counselor. These sessions are 1 hour each, and are set up by TailorMed Medical Inc., a company that provides price transparency and financial counseling.
  • During these sessions, the counselor will go over your health insurance details and give you an estimate of how much your medication will cost out-of-pocket. Financial counseling will also be offered, as well as assistance with signing up for financial aid programs, if needed.
  • The financial counseling sessions will occur when you first join the study, and at 3, 6, and 12 months after joining. You can choose to have these sessions over the phone or through video conference calls.
  • You will be asked to complete a 5-minute survey after each financial counseling session.

Participants in both groups will be asked to fill out surveys 4 times: at study enrollment, then 3, 6, and 12 months after joining EAQ222CD/CostCOM

  • Each survey will take around 45 to 60 minutes and can be completed online or on paper. You do not have to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable.
  • The total time on study will be 12 months. However, you can decide to stop taking part in EAQ222CD/CostCOM at any time, even after you have enrolled.

Who will take part in this study?

Approximately 720 people with any type or stage of solid cancer diagnosed within the past 120 days will take part in EAQ222CD/CostCOM. In order to participate in the study, you must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older, and speak English or Spanish
  • Have started/will be starting cancer medication within 30 days of joining the study
    • Note: Surgery or radiation therapy alone does not make you eligible for EAQ222CD/CostCOM. You must also be getting cancer medication in pill or IV form.

What are the costs of participating in this study?

  • There is no medical care or testing being given as part of EAQ222CD/CostCOM, and there are no expected costs to you for taking part in the study (including the financial counseling sessions, which are provided for free).
    • Participating in EAQ222CD/CostCOM shouldn’t change anything about how you normally receive treatment for your cancer. Please note that the cost of your treatment medication is not covered by the study.
  • Participants will receive a gift card valued at $10 at completion of the first survey, $15 for the second survey (at 3 months), $20 for the third survey (at 6 months), and $25 for the fourth survey (at 12 months).

Study Materials

Physician Fact Sheet

Patient Study Summary

Who is sponsoring this trial?

Clinical trial EAQ222CD is being led by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN), which focuses its research on adults who have or are at risk of developing cancer. ECOG-ACRIN receives funding for this trial from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. This study is funded by National Cancer Institute (R01CA272680).

If you would like to know more:

  • About the EAQ222CD/CostCOM study, talk with your doctor, or:
    • Visit www.ecog-acrin.org and search EAQ222CD, then select the link to the EAQ222CD Home Page.
      • If you are seeking information about the locations where the study is available, scroll down the page to Locations and Contacts and click the + sign.
    • Call the NCI Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
  • About clinical trials:
  • About ECOG-ACRIN:

Study Chairs and Team

Gelareh Sadigh, MD

Study Chair

Richard Echeverria

Study Coordinator

Study Contact Information

Email: costcom@hs.uci.edu

ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Website: https://ecog-acrin.org/clinical-trials/eaq222cd-educational-materials/