Value-Based Care

The use of a screening method followed by a financial toxicity intervention that involves navigators, pharmacists, and financial counselors demonstrated significantly improved quality of life for patients with hematologic malignancies, said lead investigator Thomas Greg Knight, MD, Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, at ASH 2020.

Protecting patients with cancer from financial hardship could save more than money. According to data presented at the 2020 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, mitigating the financial burden of cancer treatment on patients could save lives as well.

Value-based or alternative payment models have yet to deliver the cost-savings in oncology hoped for when these models were proposed, said experts at the September 2020 National Comprehensive Cancer Network Oncology Policy Summit during a panel discussion on best practices for value-based agreements.

Value-based drug purchasing, better coordination of care delivery, and earlier institution of palliative care were among the measures to lower the cost of cancer care that were suggested during a panel discussion at the 2020 virtual National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Policy Summit. The discussion was moderated by Clifford Goodman, PhD, Senior Vice President, Comparative Effectiveness Research, the Lewin Group.

When ASCO President Howard A. Burris III, MD, FACP, FASCO, chose the theme for the 2020 annual meeting—“Unite and Conquer: Accelerating Progress Together”—early last year, he never imagined that it would take on new meaning just 12 months later.

As the complexity of cancer care continues to evolve, adhering to evidence-based treatment guidelines is a growing challenge for oncologists.

Cemiplimab-rwlc (Libtayo), a PD-1 inhibitor, has transformed the treatment of advanced ­cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (CSCC), significantly extending survival for patients.

New research highlights the importance of germline analysis in the identification of germline alterations for cancer treatment.

An analysis of the Value Framework of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) shows that the Net Health Benefit score of cancer drugs continues to evolve over time after their FDA approval, based on data presented at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting.

Two studies presented at the 2020 American Association for Cancer Research virtual annual meeting confirm the value of different liquid biopsies in the early detection of different types of cancer.