ASCO 2015 Highlights

Andrew Stainthorpe, PhD, PASLU, NICE, talks about why the FDA should not take drug cost into account when weighing the approval of expensive medications.

According to Dr. Mullins, patients are having new conversations with their physicians about the cost of care and their ability to pay for treatment. He points out that some patients are not taking their medications because they cannot afford them, and says that social services need to be established to help these individuals.

Dr. Mullins emphasizes that the role of oncologists is changing, and they should recognize that treatment cost is an important consideration for patients. Having cost information available for patients is one way oncologists can help patients make decisions about their care.

C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, talks about the importance of considering the value equation when it comes to treating oncology patients. Oncologists should have conversations with their patients about clinical effectiveness and affordability in order to determine the best course of treatment. This approach is more challenging, but leads to more patient-centered care.

Dr. Bosserman explains that in her practice, patients want to be involved in their care. They want the truth about their disease, treatment, outcomes, and cost, and they want to hear it from their doctor.

Oncologists should be guided by the research that is being done around outcomes, benefit, and society impact when making value-based care decisions, says Dr. Stainthorpe.

Dr. Stainthorpe shares his belief that when it comes to care decisions, oncology patients should be provided with information about the benefits/outcomes/consequences and cost of their care.

Dr. Stainthorpe emphasizes that oncologists should focus their efforts on treating the patient in a way that will produce the fewest side effects and greatest chance of survival. However, there may be times when cost should factor into the equation.

When it comes to copays, cancer patients shoulder an unfair burden compared with other disease states. Dr. Bosserman talks about this need for a solution and the idea that a true, value-based system would help to make care more affordable for patients.

Increasing costs of copays are causing oncologists, such as Dr. Bosserman, to learn and understand more about the options (both coverage and treatment) available to patients.