Clinical review pharmacists at The US Oncology Network identified 1,271 cost-saving interventions across 5,600 patients, with 1,180 accepted interventions generating nearly $9 million in total cost of care reductions.
The initiative focused on six primary strategies including pembrolizumab dose banding, monoclonal antibody dose rounding, and biosimilar therapeutic interchange, with drug costs representing 63% of patient total cost of care.
Each clinical review pharmacist position cost approximately $25,000 but delivered significant financial returns while streamlining medication protocols and saving provider time in value-based care models.
Research from University of California San Diego revealed that 9% of inpatient chemotherapy treatments were due to transportation or housing barriers, resulting in over $7 million in potentially avoidable hospital costs over five years.
