Study Shows Value Of Therapy For Vets With Lung Cancer

Mental health treatment in tandem with oncology treatment can actually help improve cancer survival according to a study that monitored 50,000 veterans treated for lung cancer. It found that those who received mental health treatment lived longer than those who didn’t participate in such programs.

According to data from the Evernorth Research Institute, oncology patients who do not get behavioral outpatient treatment are 2x more likely to have avoidable emergency room visits, averaging $173 to $243 per patient per year higher than those who do seek it. Coupling behavioral health treatment for cancer patients with antidepressant adherence could yield $5,273 per patient per year in inpatient-related savings for employers and insurance companies.