Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42521602›Full record

ArticleMuscle & nerve2026

Capturing Financial Burden Concerns in an ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic.

Nikhita Pathapati, Minh Nguyen, Jaden Ju, Mahita Maddukuri, John Kiehl, Elizabeth Kvale, Aaron P Thrift, Sarah Berth, Astrid Grouls

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Muscle & nerve, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Nikhita PathapatiSchool of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3428-3064
Minh NguyenSchool of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4426-8146
Jaden JuSchool of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Mahita MaddukuriSchool of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
John KiehlSchool of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Elizabeth KvaleDepartment of Medicine, Section of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Aaron P ThriftSection of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0084-5308
Sarah BerthDepartment of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5666-5560
Astrid GroulsDepartment of Medicine, Section of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9596-9591

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

INTRODUCTION/

aimsAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with substantial financial burden. How financial concerns are documented or addressed in ALS multidisciplinary clinics (MDC) is unclear. We aimed to characterize financial concerns among people living with ALS (pALS) and how they are identified and documented by multidisciplinary clinic staff.

methodsWe performed a retrospective electronic medical record (EMR) review for people living with ALS (pALS) attending at least two visits at the MDC, identifying documentation of financial concerns across all MDC notes throughout 2024. Semi-structured interviews with MDC staff explored experiences with financial concern discussions and documentation. Rapid qualitative analysis was used to analyze interview content.

resultsAmong 67 pALS with at least 2 MDC visits, 45 (67.2%) had ≥ 1 documented financial concerns. Financial concerns were most documented in neurology physician notes and portal messages (both 77.8%) and included insurance denials, medication costs, disability/Medicare navigation, caregiving expenses, and home modifications. Social work and patient portal notes provided greater detail than other staff notes. Staff interviews highlighted insurance and equipment costs as frequent financial concerns. Four qualitative themes emerged: insurance challenges and reliance on non-insurance resources, financial barriers limiting care and quality of life, limited proactive conversations/documentation, and the central role of social work. DISCUSSION: Financial concerns are common among pALS but are inconsistently discussed and documented in the EMR, often arising through asynchronous communication or social work. Integrating financial screening and promoting proactive multidisciplinary documentation may improve identification of financial concerns and support more equitable, person-centered ALS care.

Indexed as

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisCost of IllnessAgedElectronic Health RecordsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective Studiesamyotrophic lateral sclerosiscost of carefinancial concerns

Identifiers

PMID42521602
PMCPMC13549160

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.