The landscape of oncology care delivery is evolving rapidly, with healthcare leaders emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration between providers and payers to ensure optimal patient outcomes while managing costs effectively.
At a recent Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event, Josh Eaves, chief development and strategy officer for Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), highlighted the dual focus on serving both patients and payers. "Let's get on the same side of the table and make space for conversations, because all of us are in this business so that our time is worth it," Eaves stated.
Bridging the Provider-Payer Divide
Healthcare experts identified several key challenges in aligning stakeholder interests. Dr. Dax Kurbegov, senior vice president at Sarah Cannon Cancer Network, noted that while providers consistently aim for excellence, financial models don't always incentivize optimal care delivery timing and location.
Data transparency emerged as a critical issue, particularly for novel therapies like CAR T-cell treatments. "From the payer or employer side, you get a whole bunch of claims data, and we don't have access to all the awesome clinical data that our providers have," explained Deirdre Saulet, PhD, market vice president for oncology at Carrum Health.
Innovation in Community Oncology Settings
The community oncology sector is making significant strides in delivering advanced therapies, particularly with bispecific T-cell engagers. Kristen Boykin, PharmD, director of pharmacy operations at FCS, detailed their approach to expanding access to these treatments.
"Starting with maintenance therapy allowed our community providers to really get their feet wet, get that comfort with bispecifics, and open the door to future possible expansion opportunities with induction," Boykin explained. FCS plans to expand from offering one medication at a single location to 7-8 medications across eight locations by the end of 2024.
Advancing Precision Medicine Through Biomarker Testing
Biomarker testing has become instrumental in personalizing cancer care and optimizing treatment selection. Dr. Manish Patel, director of Drug Development at FCS, emphasized its value: "When they have a mutation, when they have a marker, that's what you shoot for. Finding out about a targeting mutation can be game-changing for a patient's situation."
The field encompasses both liquid and tissue biopsies, each offering unique advantages. Dr. Judy Wang, associate director of Drug Development at FCS, explained that while tissue biopsies have traditionally been the standard, liquid biopsies now provide comparable results in many cases and offer the advantage of easier monitoring throughout treatment.
Cost Optimization and Treatment Efficiency
Biomarker testing is proving crucial for cost optimization and reducing patient burden. It helps differentiate between similar-presenting cancers, preventing unnecessary treatments and ensuring resources are used effectively. "The earlier you identify these biomarkers, the better patients do—and those drugs typically work very well and aggressively in the beginning," noted Dr. Patel.
Looking ahead, the field continues to evolve with emerging technologies for early cancer detection and monitoring. These advances, coupled with improved collaboration between stakeholders, promise to further enhance the delivery of value-based oncology care.
