Community oncology and Accountable Care Organizations participate in conference on site of cancer care

Conference will attempt to resolve the site of care debate for oncology patients and pharma

In the wake of the Affordable Care Act the debate on site of care, particularly for oncology – the USA’s most expensive therapeutic area – has widened, with conflicting pressures in cost control and the importance of care delivery producing a strain on budgets for both manufacturers and providers, not to mention payers.

“[The Affordable Care Act] means that providers need to be ready for increased accountability and improved execution of the delivery of cancer care,” says John Sprandio, whose practices in Pennsylvania were the country’s first example of truly patient-centred medical homes for oncology patients. “Furthermore, over the next few years, the shift in site of care will continue to drive up the cost of care delivery – particularly in those practices that migrated from a community setting to an institutional setting. “

Sprandio notes that community oncology once represented around 85% of cancer care in the US – however, it now accounts for around 70%, which has had a significant effect on patient outcomes and manufacturer budgets. “There are a handful of states where there are now no community-based oncologists – they are all insitutional based. In metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, only 30% of cancer care is delivered by community oncologists.”

Dr. Sprandio will speak at Oncology USA 2014, held in Boston on March 25th and 26th, on the effect that the site of care debate has on US cancer has a whole. He’ll be joined by other key community oncology stakeholders such as Matt Farber of the Association of Community Cancer Centers, as well as representatives from emerging specialty ACOs – including John Lynch of the Connecticut Center for Primary Care and Johnathan Lancaster, President of Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida.

Industry leaders take part in discussion and case studies

Dr. Sprandio has affirmed that oncology pharmaceutical manufacturers “should recognize and promote the value of community oncology in cancer care.” Various oncology thought leaders from the industry will also join in the debate at the conference, including Byran Litton of Eli Lilly, Peter Sandor of Amgen and Suraj Moorthy of EMD Serono.

Now in its 5th year, this two-day conference will aim to build bridges and forge strong partnerships between payers, providers and pharma, all the while focusing on the most crucial stakeholder: the oncology patient. Find out more at the official website.

Register before January 10th via the secure link below to take advantage of a $500 saving on all conference passes: https://secure.eyeforpharma.com/oncologyusa/register.php

Contact:

Aidan Brain

Head of Oncology | eyeforpharma
T: +44 (0) 207 375 7513
E: abrain@eyeforpharma.com