Dr Lalan Wilfong Discusses the Benefits of Value-Based Oncology

In a value-based cancer care model, patients can more easily access the best quality care and practices can get adequately paid for the services they offer, explained Lalan Wilfong, MD, medical oncologist and vice president of payer solutions and practice transformation at The US Oncology Network.

Transcript

What is the impact of value-based care in oncology on the care continuum? How does it impact patients, providers, and payers?

Value-based care helps the care continuum for patients, first and foremost. If you think about it from a patient standpoint, what they really want is to have the best quality care possible. And that means that we’re meeting all of their needs and addressing everything that is happening to them during a cancer diagnosis. Now, that being said, it’s the responsibility of all the parties involved to do that for them, including the practices, where they have to meet the patients where they are and make sure the patients have everything that they need for them. From the payers so that we can actually provide the care and get paid for the care that we’re providing.

What are the detriments to not adopting value-based care in oncology?

The detriments to not adopting value-based care in oncology is really truly the patient. If we continue down the path of fee for service—where costs continue to escalate and all different entities try to get a piece of the pie to make a profit of our patients—we're going to be in a terrible position. What we really need to do is step back and focus on the patients and make sure that everything we're doing is for the patient.