The Cancer Moonshot, Public Policy, and Medically Underserved Cancer Care Communities from the National Minority Quality Forum and the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.
After decades of collaborative effort and relentless pursuit of innovation, the United States is at a pivotal juncture in the fight against cancer, poised to leverage remarkable scientific advancement and cutting-edge technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), to transform cancer care. The integration of AI/ML can enhance early detection, streamline clinical trials, and facilitate personalized treatment plans, enabling a more proactive and informed approach to cancer care.
The conclusion of this journey, however, will remain elusive until the country makes a steadfast commitment to ensure that these breakthroughs benefit every corner of America. This endeavor demands a critical reevaluation of economic theories that have perpetuated a tiered healthcare system, allowing medically underserved cancer care communities (MUCCCs) to develop. The emergence of MUCCCs is rooted in the idea of an imbalance between an overwhelming demand for healthcare and a limited supply to meet that demand.
In the legacy healthcare system, policymakers resolve this supposed imbalance by rationing care. MUCCCs are distinguished by the combination of medical rationing and the exposure to environmental toxicants that cause an elevation in cancer risk in these neighborhoods. The resulting disproportionate burden on MUCCCs raises pressing public policy concerns that require urgent and sustained action.
