Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
17 Insurers, 200 Physician Groups To Join Medicare's Cancer Project To Improve Care
Morning Consult: Participation In New Cancer Care Model Exceeds Expectations, HHS Says
Physicians and insurers in 31 states will participate in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Oncology Care Model, the Department of Health and Human Services announced today. The five-year model seeks to increase quality of cancer care while lowering costs through episodic and performance-based payments. Medical practices may receive performance-based payments for chemotherapy administration to Medicare patients with cancer in addition to a care management payment each month for each beneficiary they are treating. (McIntire, 6/29)
Modern Healthcare: Doctors, Insurers Flock To Medicare's Cancer Payment Demo Despite Questions
Seventeen private health insurance companies and more than 3,200 oncologists working in almost 200 medical groups will participate in the federal government's new cancer care project, but critics argue the program may not easily lower costs or reduce unnecessary and potentially harmful care. ... The timing of the program's rollout coincides with Vice President Joe Biden's national push to cure cancer, as well as the Innovation Center's controversial attempt to change how Medicare Part B pays for outpatient drugs, like those used for cancer patients. (Herman, 6/29)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Oncologists To Take Part In Cancer Initiative
Doctors at Allegheny Health Network and UPMC are among nearly 200 physician groups and 17 payers nationwide participating in the new Medicare program, which will offer financial incentives for meeting quality care metrics. While only people with Medicare fee-for-service coverage will be affected now, the tool will eventually become a Medicare staple, according to Virginia Calega, vice president of strategic clinical services at AHN parent Highmark. “This is what we’re going to see in the industry,” Dr. Calega said. “We’re going to move away from fee-for-service.” (Mamula, 6/30)
