PLAINSBORO, N.J. – July 19, 2013 – Well-received results that show how clinical pathways reduced overall spending on cancer care, while maintaining quality and improving compensation for physicians, have been fully published in Evidence-Based Oncology, a supplement to The American Journal of Managed Care, and are available online at http://bit.ly/13RffR2.
The study, "Third-Party Validation of Observed Savings from an Oncology Pathways Program," shows that using an evidence-based clinical pathway achieves the long-sought trifecta of cutting costs and improving care without shortchanging providers, a combination once thought impossible.
In the study led by Dr. Bruce A. Feinberg of Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions in Dublin, Ohio, savings occurred across multiple clinics and offices throughout a health care network, resulting in a 15 percent drop in overall costs for the treatment of breast, lung and colon cancers. Much of these savings were achieved by a 7 percent decline in emergency room visits, according to the study published in EBO. Other savings accrued through shorter hospital stays, appropriate uses of generic drugs and better uses of chemotherapy.
Savings were confirmed by outside auditors, after netting out incentives given to physicians for participating in the program.
The results, published in the recently released issue of EBO, were first discussed at poster presentations last month at the 49th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) in Chicago. Registered users to the www.ajmc.com web site can obtain a PDF of the full paper, as well as the most recent issue of EBO. Registration is free.
Feinberg, the article's lead author, said recently that the results revealed a "new paradigm" in which "all stakeholders can win." Feinberg serves as vice president of and chief medical officer of Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions.
Authors attributed the savings to improved collaboration and communication among the physicians participating in the pathways program. The results, which have already been widely cited, have important implications for cancer care with the onset of healthcare reform, which seeks to encourage cost savings while improving the care of patient populations.
About The American Journal of Managed Care
The American Journal of Managed Care is an independent, peer-reviewed publication dedicated to publishing original research in healthcare outcomes and creating a forum for scientific communication in the ever-evolving field of healthcare delivery. The journal is indexed in MEDLINE/PUBMED. AJMC is published by the Intellisphere Managed Market Group, which is owned by MJH & Associates. For more information, please contact Nicole Beagin, Associate Editor, The American Journal of Managed Care, at 609.716.7777 or nbeagin@ajmc.com.
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