QCCA, NCCA Merge to Form ONCare Among Independent Oncology Practices

New ONCare Alliance logo

Image credit: ONCare Alliance

Competition in community oncology took another turn today with the merger of 2 entities, the National Cancer Care Alliance (NCCA) and the Quality Cancer Care Alliance (QCCA).

The new organization, called ONCare Alliance, will be led by 2 of the leading women in community oncology, cochairs Barbara McAneny, MD, of the New Mexico Cancer Center, the founder of NCCA, and Sibel Blau, MD, of Northwest Medical Specialties, PLLC, of Puyallup, Washington, who was the CEO of QCCA.

In a statement, the leaders said the new entity would combine QCCA’s focus on clinical research, growth, and strategy with NCCA’s strengths in advocacy, patient assistance, education, and resource initiatives.

The union of the 2 smaller independent practice groups comes as 2 other community oncology organizations, OneOncology and The US Oncology Network, continue to add practices to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace, amid challenges such as drug shortages and new regulatory requirements.

ONCare will be based in Washington state. Blau will serve as president and CEO, while McAneny will be the group’s chief officer of advocacy and government affairs. McAneny is a former president of the American Medical Association.

According to their respective websites, the 2 groups represent a combined 33 independent practices.

“This merger represents a pivotal moment in the advancement of independent, comprehensive, patient-centric cancer care. Independent practices have always been the foundation for care for underserved populations,” McAneny said in the statement. “By working as an Alliance, we can enhance the ability of practices to better serve their communities, competing successfully with corporate delivery systems while maintaining both patient and physician satisfaction.”

Added Blau, "Our mission is clear: to sustain and enhance independent practices by providing opportunities for collaboration in research, data-based projects, patient support services, and practice enhancement strategies.”

Reference

Powerhouses QCCA and NCCA merge to create a transformative new entity in independent practice oncology and cancer care: ONCare Alliance, LLC. News release. Pharmiweb. February 29, 2024. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.pharmiweb.com/press-release/2024-02-29/powerhouses-qcca-and-ncca-merge-to-create-a-transformative-new-entity-in-independent-practice-oncolo