A panel of oncology experts sought to explore the complexity and variation in care delivery in ambulatory oncology practices. Specifically, they wanted to look into how some these practices are able to deliver high-value care at a relatively low cost. Their objective was to use the variation in total spending and quality of care to assess oncology practice attributes distinguishing “high value” that may be tested and adopted by others to produce similar results.

“Because value-based payments—implementation of the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, the Oncology Care Model, and Accountable Care Organizations—are already rewarding high-value institutions, a better appreciation of the attributes of high-value oncology care is timely,” say the experts.

For their exploration, the panel looked at combinations of claims data with cancer registry and clinical data, and examined how the programs could broadly identify high- and low-value care. In total, seven oncology practices were studied using thirteen attributes. Five themes emerged from the study: treatment planning and goal setting, services supporting the patient journey, technical support and physical layout, care team organization and function, and external context.

In the end, oncology practice attributes warranting further testing were identified that may lower total spending for high-quality oncology care.

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