Inefficiencies in Oncology Continue to Prove Costly

The Center for Health Value Innovation (CHVI) presented a webinar yesterday that touched on clinical pathways for oncology and how value-based approaches will help to improve health and financial outcomes.

One of the presenters was Jack Mahoney, MD, MPH, CMO, of CHVI. Mahoney started by mentioning some staggering financial statistics as they relate to healthcare, such as how 10% to 12% of total healthcare spend is on oncology. A large reason for this, said Dr. Mahoney, is due to pharmacology therapy, which continues to grow at a rapid rate because of a strong pipeline.

For employers who are caught in the middle of a complicated health system, it’s imperative that they understand and manage long- and short-term costs. The optimal effect of healthcare is achieved when there is appropriate initiation and sustained and prolonged use. Dr. Mahoney suggested that the audience look up and read a 2009 New England Journal of Medicine article by Peter Bach entitled Limits on Medicare's ability to Control Rising Spending on Cancer Drugs.

Another presenter, Bruce A. Feinberg, DO, spoke about how clinical pathways have the ability to improve patient care through treatment and behavior changes, as they are a method to reduce unnecessary and costly treatment variation through standardized, evidence-based treatment practices.

Although the webinar feautured several short presentations, the overall message was that healthcare professionals from all fields must work together to improve areas of the system that are overly costly and inefficient, such as end of life and the administration of second-line therapies (and beyond).

To learn more about this presentaion and to view upcoming digital media presentations, please visits CHVI's website.