The landscape of oncology care witnessed significant developments in 2024, with healthcare professionals and policymakers grappling with systemic challenges while embracing new treatment advances. Evidence-Based Oncologyā¢ (EBO) highlighted several pivotal issues that shaped the year in cancer care delivery and policy.
Patient Navigation Billing Reform Makes Headway
A groundbreaking CMS rule change introduced billing codes for Principal Illness Navigation (PIN) services, marking the first time patient navigation services could be billed separately. While this development represents a significant step forward in recognizing navigation's crucial role in cancer care, implementation challenges persist, particularly regarding telehealth service integration.
Prior Authorization Struggles Continue
Medicare Advantage prior authorization practices faced intense scrutiny throughout the year. Despite CMS's attempts to address authorization abuse through new regulations, significant gaps remained, particularly in access to cancer medications. Dr. Debra Patt, president of the Community Oncology Alliance, highlighted these challenges in Senate testimony, citing cases where patients faced extensive delays for critical breast cancer treatments.
PBM Reform Takes Center Stage
The Federal Trade Commission's aggressive stance against pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) became a major focus, particularly following their lawsuit against Express Scripts. The action alleged that major PBMs were artificially inflating patient costs for insulin products to boost profits. Despite bipartisan support for reform, comprehensive PBM legislation failed to materialize in the year-end government funding package.
Treatment Guidelines Evolution
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) made significant updates to ovarian cancer treatment guidelines. Notable changes included new recommendations for mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere) plus bevacizumab for patients with FRš¼-expressing tumors, reflecting the ongoing evolution of precision medicine in oncology.
Accelerated Approval Pathway Under Review
The FDA's accelerated approval pathway, responsible for expediting access to 278 drugs over 30 years, faced increased scrutiny. With approximately one-third of oncology drugs now receiving initial approval through this mechanism, stakeholders emphasized the need for robust post-approval monitoring and confirmation of clinical benefits.
The oncology care landscape continues to evolve, with these developments highlighting the complex interplay between clinical advances, healthcare policy, and patient access to care. As the field moves forward, addressing these challenges while maintaining focus on patient outcomes remains paramount.
