PCOC: Patient-Centered Oncology Care

Payers say NCCN guideline concordance sets a baseline for cancer coverage, but cost and formulary variation may still limit access.

Liquid biopsy and at-home phlebotomy are closing precision medicine access gaps nationwide, though tissue remains the gold standard.

Accelerated approvals, surrogate end points, and high drug costs are reshaping cancer center formulary decisions, explained panelists at PCOC.

Physicians to Discuss 2026 Oncology Care Index at Patient-Centered Oncology Care®, Premier Annual AJMC® Event Starting Today in Nashville | 60% of Community Physicians Say Clinical Trial Options Are Limited; 93% Say Pragmatic Designs Would Help

Stephen "Fred" Divers, MD, previews PCOC 2026, including his session on the Oncology Care Index and the gap in AI adoption in oncology.

J&J's Oncology Care Index finds a systems problem, not a confidence gap, in community oncology, Mahadi Baig, MD, says.

Oncology experts at PCOC 2025 discuss breakthrough therapies, AI-driven care, and evolving care delivery models shaping the future of oncology.

Patients beginning their cancer journeys should advocate for themselves and use support groups to help navigate survivorship challenges.

Payer contracts should incentivize the delivery of comprehensive, total-person cancer care, says Brian Mulherin, MD.

Many cancer survivors face ongoing physical and mental health challenges, which peer support and online resources can help address, says Brian Koffman, MDCM, DCFP, FCFP, DABFP, MSEd.

Despite systemic challenges, oncology practices use value-based care, community partnerships, and clinical trials to improve patient access and outcomes, says Brian Mulherin, MD.

Vivek Subbiah, MD, says artificial intelligence (AI) should assist clinicians in precision oncology, not replace human decision-making.

Artificial intelligence, automation, and expanded pharmacist roles help reduce administrative burdens, improve workflow, and support providers in delivering cancer care, according to Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding clinical trial access and enabling drug repurposing, according to Vivek Subbiah, MD.

Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, discusses how remote patient monitoring and caregiver support enable safe outpatient delivery of bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates.

Stronger partnerships between primary care and oncology improve patient outcomes by ensuring coordinated care and addressing financial and systemic barriers, says Mark Fendrick, MD.

Reducing data silos and boosting transparency in oncology requires payer-provider trust and co-governance, according to Vishnukamal Golla, MD, MPH.

Five experts share their key takeaways from Patient-Centered Oncology Care® (PCOC) 2025, highlighting AI integration and collaboration to improve care.

Although overall costs have not declined with the Oncology Care Model (OCM), supportive care costs have decreased through greater use of cost-effective therapies.

Vivek Subbiah, MD, considers artificial intelligence (AI) and comprehensive somatic and germline testing essential for guiding precision oncology and improving patient care.

Oncology pharmacists now work alongside providers to improve efficiency, patient education, and treatment outcomes, according to Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP.

Oncology care requires teamwork, support services, and careful planning to ensure effective, affordable, and patient-focused treatment, according to Brian Mulherin, MD.

Expanding community-based cancer services brings advanced treatments closer to home and addresses social determinants of health, says Kathy Oubre, MS.

Davey Daniel, MD, shares strategies to prevent bias in artificial intelligence (AI) and outlining future opportunities for its adoption in precision oncology.

Oncology stakeholders are navigating new policies as the landscape quickly evolves, according to Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA, CPEL.

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to democratize precision oncology, but it must be implemented thoughtfully.

In a time of skyrocketing oncology drug costs, the role of pharmacists in managing patients’ treatment and keeping care in the outpatient setting is more urgent than ever.

Teamwork between primary care providers and oncologists helps patients get needed care and achieve better results, according to Mark Fendrick, MD, at the Patient-Centered Oncology Care (PCOC) conference.

Kathy Oubre, MS, discusses opportunities for community cancer centers to expand service lines without sacrificing care quality.

Broader integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in precision oncology depends on overcoming barriers such as trust and transparency, according to Davey Daniel, MD.