COA: Community Oncology Alliance

Karen van Caulil, PhD, on how employers can improve cancer care by investing in access, prevention, and support through treatment and survivorship.

Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, MPH, discusses AI adoption, administrative burden, and strategies to streamline prior authorization in oncology.

Bundled payment models offer employers and community oncology practices greater cost predictability while improving patient access, Baird said.

Jeff Hunnicutt emphasized vetting prior authorization vendors, scaling beyond single use cases, and AI's potential to streamline workflows.

Rosa Novo discusses tailoring cancer benefits to workforce needs, improving access and prevention, and return-to-work support.

Employers can advance patient-centered oncology care through proactive benefits, quality data, navigation, and tailored support, Amanda Green, MPH, said.

Lalan Wilfong, MD, discusses how model assumptions, cohort design, and risk adjustment shape performance and accountability in value-based oncology.

AI tools can ease administrative burden in community oncology, but practices face adoption, security, compliance, bias, and error concerns.

Alexa Simon Meara, MD, MS, discusses breaking down silos between academic and community oncology to improve immunotherapy care and irAE management.

Pharmacists need better support to manage emotional strain tied to patient suffering, treatment costs, and care decisions, says Karen Fancher, PharmD, BCOP.

Diana Verrilli, MS, of Navista breaks down the regulatory, payer, and cybersecurity pressures threatening community oncology practices—and maps a path forward.

Community pharmacists must build scalable workflows as bispecific antibodies move into earlier lines and outpatient settings, notes Brooke Peters, PharmD, BCOP, of AON.

Eileen Ehret, BS, Navista, focuses on aligning quality improvement with patient safety, engaging all stakeholders, and creating safe spaces to drive change in oncology.

AI drives community oncology transformation as practice leaders offer examples of what is working in community oncology to streamline calls, triage, and documentation.

As CAR T-cell therapy reaches community oncology, practice leaders discuss the challenges of payer hurdles, single case agreements, apheresis costs and whether to pursue accreditation.

Karen Fancher, PharmD, BCOP, emphasizes a pharmacist’s pivotal role in CLL care through communication, adherence strategies, and bridging patients with medical teams.

Rose Gerber, MS, explains how listening, personal experience, and small steps can transform patients into powerful advocates for their own care.

Policy experts discuss how PBM reforms came together, what changes are on the horizon, and what threats are looming for community oncology.

Lekan Ajayi, PharmD, explains how remote therapy monitoring keeps patients with cancer on track with their care and reduces emergency visits.

New research incorporating Flatiron Health and SEER data, confirms community oncology care matches or beats other settings, says Diana Verrilli, MS, Navista.

Bringing these curative treatments to more patients means making them available at the community practice level. But that's a big lift, according to experts who spoke at a COA session.

Results of a study using Flatiron Health and SEER data show that community oncology patients with metastatic breast cancer and metastatic NSCLC live longer, highlighting advantages of COA-backed local care.

Community oncology delivers top-tier cancer care close to home, said Nicolas Ferreyros, COA, championing research, advocacy, and innovation to prove it.

COA’s Christine Pfaff, RPh, MBA, highlights clinical and operational innovation, AI adoption, and practice-sharing as keys to advancing community oncology care.

COA's annual conference hits Orlando April 28, focusing on AI, targeted therapy innovation, and state-level oncology advocacy, explains cochair Johnetta Blakely, MD, MS, MMHC.

The COA Community Oncology Conference will tackle AI, the rollout of bispecifics and CAR T in the community setting, plus reimbursement, radiation oncology, and patient access strategies.

The 2025 Community Oncology Conference, hosted by COA, reflected a commitment to patient-centered care, access, and innovation in community oncology.

Remote patient monitoring enhances cancer care by improving outcomes and reducing emergency visits, despite challenges in reimbursement and technology access.

Community oncology leaders navigate challenges in value-based care under the Enhancing Oncology Model, facing performance payment uncertainties and evolving drug markets.

Community oncology faces significant challenges from the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) drug pricing changes, risking financial stability and patient access to care.