The healthcare triangle (patients, payers, and providers) begins with the patient, so we should include the patient in some of the decision-making, said Roger Brito, DO, national director for oncology, Aetna.

Transcript (slightly modified)

What should patients know about alternative payment models and OCM?

I don’t think patients should ever be scared of anything that’s happening in the oncology world, and I can tell you, representing Aetna, our goal is to look at our members, our patients. We want them to be well; we want them to continue to live healthy lives. So, we’re always going to make decisions based on their well-being. How we go about doing that is the complexity. I would love to have patients involved in the decision-making, and I think that’s something that’s interesting and new. But, I do believe that possibly could happen as we move forward, as we’re communicating and collaborating. I think if we have involvement, as I said that healthcare triangle: the point starts with the patient, so why not include the patient in some of these decisions? But the bottom line is, don’t be afraid of what’s going to happen. I think it’s exciting what’s happening.