He noted that in the new analysis, the VA care looks much cheaper. “I'm struggling with that result: It flies in the face of our past work,” he said. He added that an analysis should also look at surgery and radiation. “VA has a tradition of providing high-value medications at a lower cost. But VA’s costs of surgery and radiation tend to be more expensive.”
Clough does not plan more research in this area. For now, she said, her site is working to expand to include infusion clinics at local VA community-based outpatient clinics as part of the Close to Me program. The program, launched by the VA in 2022, aims to provide cancer services at community-based outpatient clinics, mobile infusion units, and patient homes.
“As part of this service, we are looking to maximize video-based and phone visits between our existing oncology staff and veterans living in more isolated areas, coordinate labs/imaging locally, and deliver infusion and/or injectable therapies to the veteran,” Clough said.
In addition, she said, “We currently have a dedicated hematology/oncology trained pharmacist and 2 infusion nurses working to expand the service and deliver veteran care in these remote areas.”
There was no funding for this study, and the authors have no disclosures. Wagner discloses grant funding to his institutions from the VA, the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Heinz Foundation.