US Oncology Network Achieves Record Patient Enrollment for Oncology Care Model Program

A total of 100,000 patients are now enrolled Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation’s (CMMI) Oncology Care Model (OCM), as a result of the efforts of The US Oncology Network (The Network). Participation of The Network in OCM has saved Medicare a collective $122 million in the first 6 performance periods (PP).

CMMI created the OCM as a 5-year pilot program to provide coordinated, high quality cancer care at the same or lower cost to patients and practices to Medicare. This is a part of their goal of making the healthcare system value-based over volume-based.

“We are very excited to enroll our 100,000th patient in the Oncology Care Model while also providing over $100 million in cumulative savings to Medicare,” Michael Seiden, MD, PhD, president of The US Oncology Network, said in a press release. “These achievements showcase the ability of practices in The Network to consistently perform well in the OCM while demonstrating that high-quality care and cost management can work in tandem to provide value to all stakeholders.”

The Network’s goal is to provide value-based and high-quality care for patients, and the OCM requires that of the practices participating. This large and complex program requires practices to provide enhanced patient care, effective cost management, and comprehensive clinical data reporting to Medicare, among other responsibilities. Many practices enrolled in the program have demonstrated improvement with each passing performance period, each of which are 6 months long.

“Celebrating our 100,000th OCM patient and seeing better performance each period reminds us that success is an ongoing process,” Beatrice Mautner, vice president of Clinical & Innovent Services at The US Oncology Network, said in a statement. “We are continually striving to be at the forefront of value-based care by constantly developing innovative resources and solutions to challenges as they arise, empowering community oncology to lead the way forward and succeed in this new environment.”

At the end of PP6, Network Practices participating in the OCM showed significant improvements in quality to baseline performance in PP1, including a 7% reduction in hospitalizations, a 3% reduction in emergency room visits, and a 5% increase in hospice utilization. There was also an increased emphasis on pain and depression management, shown through an implemented plan for elevated pain control for 94% of patients and approaches for improvement in 80% of patients who reported depression and were screened.

To enhance patient’s experiences and provide better service, practices prioritized shared decision making with patients at the beginning of treatment, patients were given comprehensive treatment plans that the physician went over with them, and highly trained navigators and social workers provided increased support and care coordination. There was also “Call Us First” campaigns meant to announce access to care through high-risk outreach, enhanced triage, electronic patient-reported outcomes, and same or next day urgent care access.

“The impressive results achieved by The Network is a testament to the commitment by the practices to deliver high quality, value-based care,” Marcus Neubauer, MD, chief medical officer of The US Oncology Network, said in the press release. “Enrolling 100,000 patients into the OCM and earning high-performance marks during PP6 are proof that the participating Network practices are major contributors to this program by providing quality care and saving healthcare dollars.”

The resources available to The Network practices partaking in the OCM, such as innovative pharmacy solutions, industry-leading technology, and advanced analytics, have helped these practices be successful in the program and give patients the care they need.

“At least 50% of The Network practices participating in the OCM have chosen 2-sided risk for 2020,” noted Stuart Staggs, senior director of Strategic Programs at McKesson, which supports The Network. “This demonstrates a very high level of confidence in the support they are receiving from The Network and McKesson that enables them to successfully meet the complex challenges the OCM presents.”

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_{The US Oncology Network enrolls 100,000th patient in the Oncology Care Model, enhancing care while saving Medicare over $100 million. News release. The US Oncology Network. November 11, 2020. Accessed November 11, 2020. https://bwnews.pr/3krOlay}