Dive Brief:
- HHS announced Wednesday its selection of 200 physician group practices and 17 health insurance companies for participation in its new cancer care delivery model that aims to improve quality and coordination of care.
- It added that the Medicare arm of the model will involve more than 3,200 oncologists and 155,000 Medicare beneficiaries across the U.S.
- The Oncology Care Model is slated to run from this July 1 through June 30, 2021.
Dive Insight:
Any improvements in cancer care and cost control could have a major impact given that another 1.6 million cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2016 alone, and that costs are projected to reach at least $158 billion by 2020. That's a 27% increase over 2010, the HHS noted, and much of that falls on Medicare given that a "significant portion" of those diagnosed are over 65 and are program beneficiaries.
“The Oncology Care Model encourages greater collaboration and information sharing so that cancer patients get the care they need,” Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said in a prepared statement, adding that it furthers Vice-President Joe Biden's cancer moonshot initiative.
The model will also be notable as one of the first CMS physician-led specialty care models, HHS noted, and it's off to a promising start with nearly double the number of participants anticipated.
Participants will provide enhanced services that may include coordination among care providers regarding appointments as well as diagnostic and treatment services, 24/7 access to care, and access to additional resources for matters including emotional support, pain management and clinical trials.