Hannibal Regional Receives Transportation Assistance Grant from American Cancer Society

For the fifth consecutive year, Hannibal Regional Foundation has received
a transportation assistance grant from the American Cancer Society. This year’s grant of $7,500 will be used to supply cancer patients at Hannibal
Regional with gas cards to assist with the cost of transportation to and from treatment appointments. “This is such a great benefit to our cancer patients,
many of whom are required to travel 5 days a week for up to six or eight weeks for treatment. This helps relieve some of the financial burden of traveling to appointments and helps the patients focus on healing,” stated Wendy Harrington, President and CEO of Hannibal Regional Foundation.
Access to high-quality cancer treatment impacts cancer outcomes. A lack of the transportation needed to receive quality care can lead to missed appointments, treatment interruptions, and delays in follow up care.
In a 2023 Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) study, American Cancer Society researchers found that delayed care due to lack of transportation is associated with increased emergency room use and
mortality risk among adults with and without cancer history.
“Transportation obstacles should not be barriers that determine the survival
of those needing cancer treatment,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer for the American Cancer Society. “Partnering with health systems and organizations across the country to provide funding to deliver the direct assistance needed helps to fill these equity gaps and improves cancer outcomes.”
Since 2021, the American Cancer Society has invested more than $50 million in transportation and lodging grants to health system partners across the country. By the end of 2027, this investment is expected to provide more than 370,000 patients with over 4.3 million transportation
and lodging services.
For more information on cancer services or cancer patient assistance at Hannibal Regional, please call (573)248-1300.