PCOC: Patient-Centered Oncology Care

Digital utilization can generate data with supporting evidence for clinical pathways that benefits clinicians, explained Kathleen Lokay, president and CEO of Via Oncology.

Using data collection means taking the guesswork out of treatment, said Torrie K. Fields, MPH, senior program manager of Palliative Care Program Design & Implementation for Blue Shield of California.

Clinical pathways can help providers avoid delays with prior authorization by ensuring that all the necessary information is there, explained Kathleen Lokay, president and CEO of Via Oncology.

As the healthcare system moves more towards a value-based system, practices are running into challenges with the operational complexities of new payment models. Brenton Fargnoli, MD, medical director of value-based care and director of product marketing and strategy at Flatiron Health, outlined a few ways practices can ensure they’re ready to take on downside risk.

A panel on the importance of clinical and non-clinical stakeholders in a patient’s care trajectory brought together a diverse group of stakeholders at The American Journal of Managed Care®’s Patient-Centered Oncology Care® meeting.

Vivor has a provider-facing technology platform that empowers providers to address financial toxicity by proactively identifying financial resources for their patients, said Ian Manner, MBA, co-founder, CEO, Vivor.

Documenting when a patient falls outside of a recommended pathway has the dual benefits of improving the algorithm and helping a provider get reimbursed faster, explained Torrie K. Fields, MPH, senior program manager of Palliative Care Program Design & Implementation for Blue Shield of California.

The evolution of the navigator role has been an important development in cancer care, according to panelists who offered various perspectives on helping patients along the cancer journey.

High chemotherapy costs are only one reason for the rising cost of cancer care. End-of-life care and hospitalizations are within an oncologist's control and must be better managed given new reimbursement structures.