The end of the Oncology Care Model (OCM) is fast approaching, but there remains uncertainty about what comes next. Panelists speculated that the successor model will address the high cost of cancer drugs and will likely be mandatory.

Improvements in cancer treatment are not benefitting all patients equally and understanding social determinants of health is crucial to improving outcomes, said Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, of Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, during the opening session.

Targeting interventions to patients will mean understanding patients beyond just their health. Robert Groves, MD, of Banner | Aetna, explained that data sets can help predict health behaviors of populations..

Telemedicine use increased during the pandemic out of necessity, and it isn’t going away. The COVID-19 pandemic created a surge in the use of technology and telemedicine that will allow providers to deliver better care.

The patient journey in cancer treatment is never easy, but the rise of care navigation has been a game changer for patient satisfaction and better outcomes. However, despite the benefits, reimbursement can be elusive.

Pathways have gained acceptance largely because oncologists have found them useful when selecting therapies, but there remain challenges, according to the panelists. For instance, how do pathways deal with timely changes?