Shaping the Future of Community Oncology Through Sustainable Practices

Key trends and opportunities for community-based cancer care lie at the heart of the inaugural Advancing Community Oncology Report from McKesson.¹ Launched today, the new report reflects McKesson’s strategic focus on increasing support for oncology care ecosystems and accelerating patient access to innovative treatments through partnerships between biopharma and community oncology practices. It also underscores how community oncology is essential to building a “more sustainable future for cancer care.”

“Through our oncology services, we are focused on bridging the gap between scientific breakthroughs and day-to-day oncology care,” said Jason Hammonds, president, oncology and multispecialty, McKesson, in a statement.² “This report offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from the community practices at the front lines of cancer care, as well as key leaders in the space, on how biopharma can actively support these providers in accelerating the future of cancer care for patients.”

The report draws unique insights from more than 100 community oncologists and over 100 practice administrators and staff on the current landscape and the future outlook in the space.³ Physicians, clinicians, practice leaders, and industry experts have also contributed via feedback gathered at McKesson’s inaugural Accelerate conference, which took place November 3-5, 2025, in Las Vegas.

Operational Pressures, Core Concerns, and Accelerating Access

Top opportunities cited in the report to help shape the future of community oncology are to accelerate adoptions of novel and precision therapies, unlock access to community-based clinical trials, elevate care for changing patient needs, prepare community practices for technology-driven care, and foster collaboration and innovation through McKesson Accelerate.

Although there are many community practices that deliver high-quality and patient-centered care that allows patients to stay anchored in their daily lives—by being able to work and stay active, among others—and not be continuously uprooted to receive seamless care, practices still face significant operational hurdles.

According to the report, administrative burdens (eg, prior authorization, coding, billing, and revenue cycle management) pose the greatest challenge to smooth community operations, with 59% of physicians and 61% of administrators/staff personnel citing them as a top 3 concern. In addition, when asked about adopting novel therapies, the top concern was challenges with payment/reimbursement among 62% of administrators/staff personnel and lack of time among 54% of physicians; regarding clinical trial participation, lack of specialized staff was the top concern among 54% of physicians and 53% of administrators/staff. Other top administrative burdens are keeping pace with clinical innovation (78% of community physicians), lack of adequate technology, operating budget, and the ability to participate in clinical trials.

Community-based providers are not only delivering care, they are shaping the future of it. Their clinical experience and dedication to patients drive advocacy for legislative and regulatory reforms that expand access to high-quiality cancer care—Ben Jones, senior vice president, marketing and government relations, oncology and multispecialty, McKesson

Precision medicine is rapidly transforming treatment, principally through its ability to offer personalized care. Most survey respondents (95%) expect personalized medicine to significantly improve patient survival, and more than 70% believe innovative therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell and gene therapies, could replace more traditional methods as soon as the next 10 years. However, the adoption of these innovations is hindered by the systemic barriers previously mentioned. Collaboration is essential to bridge these gaps, the report stresses.

Expanding clinical trial participation is also necessary, for both advancing research and improving patient outcomes. Although 93% of both community physicians and administrators/staff highlight the positive impact of clinical trial participation on patient outcomes, 85% and 78%, respectively, say access is easier within an academic setting. In addition, the patient population is always changing, with 76% of the oncologists surveyed for the report noting that patients are being diagnosed with cancer at younger ages and more are requiring long-term care; 62% also reported rising patient volumes.

Tantamount with these patient population changes is a demand to better patient education from 64% of community physicians and 77% of administrators/staff, but also concern about the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into systems and processes, including electronic medical records and prior authorizations. Just 2% of physicians and 6% of administrators/staff say they are “entirely ready for what’s next,” according to the report, which also makes clear that emerging technologies will support and not supplant “the human touch that defines community oncology.”

“Oncology has never been more interconnected or complex,” the report concludes. “From research labs to community clinics, continued progress depends on how effectively we link discovery, data, and delivery so innovation reaches every patient who can benefit.”

References

1. 2025 Advancing Community Oncology Report. McKesson. December 1, 2025. Accessed December 1, 2025. https://www.mckesson.com/biopharma/advancing-community-oncology-report/
2. McKesson’s Advancing Community Oncology Report charts a new era of innovation for biopharma and community care. McKesson. December 1, 2025. Accessed December 1, 2025. https://www.mckesson.com/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/2025/mckessons-advancing-community-oncology-report-charts-a-new-era-of-innovation/