COA: Community Oncology Alliance

A chief concern among those considering the upcoming alternative payment model in oncology, the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM): Practices will have to take on downside risk immediately.

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) retains the spirit of an upstart advocacy group, while working to look ahead at innovative technologies, care delivery trends, and other events that threaten independent practices, said oncology leaders while attending their annual meeting this week.

Kashyap Patel, MD, immediate past president of Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and CEO of Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates, talks about bringing together different stakeholders in the oncology space in order to benefit patients and providers.

Topics to be addressed at the annual conference, which will bring more than 1900 attendees to Kissimmee, Florida, include the Enhancing Oncology Model, efforts to regulate pharmacy benefit managers, and 340B reform.

Stephen M. Schleicher, MD, MBA, Tennessee Oncology and Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Board of Directors member, discusses what brings him back to the Community Oncology Conference year after year.

This year's Community Oncology Conference will celebrate 2 decades of achievements in community oncology and begin to chart a path forward for the future, said Nicolas Ferreyros, managing director of policy, advocacy, and communications at Community Oncology Alliance (COA).

In this preview of the 2023 Community Oncology Conference, past president of the Community Oncology Alliance, David Eagle, MD, of New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, discusses what has him excited for this year's meeting, both sessions and speakers.

Shiela Plasencia, director of practice support at the Community Oncology Alliance, shares what she's looking forward to at the 2023 Community Oncology Conference.

340B was developed with positive intentions, but has resulted in unintended consequences, said Edward J. Licitra, MD, PhD, chairman and chief executive officer, Astera Cancer Care.

"We need to get rid of all obstacles that are getting in the way of the patient getting their care," said Bo Gamble, director of strategic practice initiatives at Community Oncology Alliance (COA).

Brian Corvino, MBA, managing director, Life Sciences and Health Care Practice, Deloitte Consulting, LLP, offered an overview of how the surge of innovation in oncology—and resulting drug approvals—dominate the biopharmaceutical sector. He spoke at the Community Oncology Alliance's Payer Exchange Summit.

The quest to deliver better cancer care—with better outcomes and patient experience—is not a one-size-fits-all journey, as seen in panels during the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Payer Exchange Summit, held in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.

Making value-based payment models work in cancer care requires close attention to the financial and quality measures and a commitment to culture change, said experts gathered October 25 at the Community Oncology Alliance Payer Exchange Summit.

Panelists who have reviewed the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) say it puts additional requirements on practices with reduced monthly payments, and its risk modeling could put a small practice out of business.

As part of its inquiry, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will demand that the 6 largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) submit records and answer questions regarding their business practices.

The frequency of global crises such as hurricanes, war, and the pandemic makes a standing committee necessary.

Angela Storseth-Cooper, associate director, Government Relations & Public Policy, The US Oncology Network, discusses state-level legislation that community oncology practices can leverage to address issues involving pharmacy benefit managers and the vertical integration of health plans and specialty pharmacies.

At the 2022 Community Oncology Conference, Elizabeth Spurlock, MA, PHR, director, Human Resources Business Partner, Texas Oncology, discussed the prevalence of burnout among physicians, staff, and administrators, and several strategies to reduce risk and support the health care workforce.

Quality measures are the lifeblood of practice transformation, but learning which ones make a difference—and how to use them to drive change—is as much an art as a science, according to 3 oncology care leaders who discussed the topic Friday at the 2022 Community Oncology Conference, presented by the Community Oncology Alliance.

During a panel at the Community Oncology Alliance’s Community Oncology Conference, speakers discuss practice-level efforts to reduce cancer care disparities.

Lalan Wilfong, MD, vice president of Payer Relations & Practice Transformation at The US Oncology Network, speaks on how use of health economics and outcomes research has benefitted patient care in the community oncology setting and where it can be further leveraged in the pursuit of value-based care.

Jim Schwartz, RPh, corporate pharmacy manager, Texas Oncology, discussed pharmacy challenges regarding equitable care and distribution of specialty drugs in the community oncology setting.

Barbara McAneny, MD, CEO of the New Mexico Cancer Center, who served as president of the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2018, said the AMA has engaged a law firm to take on the issue of curtailing prior authorization, which oncologists say has become worse with increased vertical integration among health plans and pharmacy benefit managers.

Ben Jones, vice president, Government Relations & Public Policy, The US Oncology Network, addresses potential reform at the federal and state level that could accelerate the pursuit of value-based care in the community oncology setting.

A panel on the first day of the Community Oncology Alliance 2022 Community Oncology Conference examines issues that will affect oncology practices in the future.

Michael Diaz, MD, president and managing physician, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, speaks on takeaways from his discussions on site of care and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) at the 2022 Community Oncology Conference.

No One Left Behind, a program to provide financial assistance and access to cancer care at Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates in South Carolina, will be discussed during a session of the Community Oncology Alliance 2022 Community Oncology Conference.

The first in-person Community Oncology Alliance (COA) meeting in 2 years will feature sessions on practice management, health disparities, and more. A virtual option is available.

Kashyap Patel, MD, chief executive officer, Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associations, and current president of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), previews his discussion on health equity to be held at the 2022 Community Oncology Conference.

Glenn Balasky, executive director of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, previewed topics and potential takeaways from his discussion on building a community oncology practice for the future at the 2022 Community Oncology Conference.