New Enhanced Oncology Model will test the delivery of patient-centered care
Participating oncology practices can expect to provide patient-focused Enhanced Services, such as 24/7 access to a clinician.
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The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has designed a new model aimed at improving cancer care for Medicare patients through enhanced services such as patient navigation, care planning and the collection of electronic patient-reported outcomes.
The new Enhanced Oncology Model will support and learn from cancer patients, caregivers and cancer survivors. It will also address inequities by
screening for social needs that may affect treatment, such as transportation and nutrition.
It was designed to test how to improve healthcare providers' ability to deliver care centered on patients, consider patients' unique needs and deliver cancer care in a way that will generate the best possible patient outcomes, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The Enhancing Oncology Model is a voluntary model that will run for five years, from July 2023 through June 2028.
Model participants will include oncology practices that treat people with Medicare undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, chronic leukemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer and small intestine/colorectal cancer.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 30.
Oncology practices who participate in EOM can expect to provide patient-focused Enhanced Services, such as 24/7 access to a clinician, patient navigation services, a detailed care plan and screenings for health-related social needs. Patients will also have an opportunity to share feedback on their overall cancer care experience and health outcomes.
It builds on the lessons learned from the Innovation Center's Oncology Care Model, which was tested from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2022.
EOM will also encourage other payers, such as commercial payers and state Medicaid agencies, to align with its core concepts to promote a consistent approach across payers and EOM participants' patient population.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The model aims to increase and improve communications among patients, oncologists and care teams in-between appointments and enable patients to more easily reach their healthcare providers with questions. It offers an additional payment to participating oncology practices that provide Enhanced Services to patients who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
In addition to requiring participants to screen for health-related social needs, EOM requires participating providers to report patient demographic data such as race, ethnicity, language and gender identity; and requires participating providers to develop plans showing how they will address health equity gaps in their patient population.
THE LARGER TREND
The central goal of EOM is to better support patients and improve their care experience, advancing a key goal of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, according to CMS.
President Biden's Cancer Moonshot has the goal of cutting the death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years. Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced first-year funding awards of $215 million in a five-year, $1.1 billion investment into three national programs to prevent and control cancer.
In May, HHS announced the availability of $5 million for community health centers, funded by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration, to increase equitable access to cancer screenings.
ON THE RECORD
"There are stark inequities in the ability of people with cancer across race, gender, region, and income to access cancer screening, diagnostics, and treatment," said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. "CMS is working to advance President Biden's Cancer Moonshot goals by helping Medicare cancer patients better navigate a challenging and often overwhelming journey. The Enhancing Oncology Model will incentivize participating oncology practices – including those in rural and underserved areas – to improve the provision of high quality, coordinated care that addresses patients' social needs and improves patient and caregiver support."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org
