Advances in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment have transformed outcomes for many patients.
New targeted therapies have extended survival, improved quality of life, and enabled more personalized treatment decisions based on genetic risk factors, age, comorbidities, and patient preferences. But despite significant scientific progress, access to these innovations remains uneven.
Drawing on policy evidence and stakeholder input, this report, co-authored by Kirsten Axelsen, Laura Jenkins, Laura Garvey, and Michelle Pan, and commissioned by BeOne Medicines USA, Inc., examines barriers to CLL care and recommends five actions to help ensure every patient receives the right treatment at the right time.
The report’s key findings include the following:
- Many patients do not receive recommended biomarker testing, even though these tests help identify genetic risk factors and guide treatment selection.
- Access to guideline-preferred therapies can vary based on geography, provider resources, and access to specialist expertise, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
- Utilization management tools, such as prior authorization and step therapy, can delay access to recommended treatments, creating administrative burdens for providers and patients alike.
- High out-of-pocket costs and other affordability challenges continue to place financial strain on patients navigating cancer care.
- The growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare raises both opportunities and concerns, including the need for transparency and appropriate clinical oversight when AI influences coverage decisions.
To help ensure patients receive the best treatment option without unnecessary delays, the authors recommend expanding biomarker testing, improving treatment education, strengthening care coordination, reforming utilization management practices, and promoting responsible AI use in cancer care.
As treatment innovation continues to advance, addressing these persistent access challenges will be essential to translating scientific progress into better outcomes for patients living with CLL.
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