Purchasing oncology services. Kerr L. White Institute/American Cancer Society Task Force on Purchasing Oncology...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Oncology
• Health Policy

Background:

• A multidisciplinary panel convened to establish criteria for evaluating health plans in oncology.
• Stakeholders included purchasers, providers, policymakers, and consumers in the healthcare marketplace.
• Criteria aim to guide purchasers and inform health plan design for cancer care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and rank order criteria for healthcare purchasers evaluating health plans.
• To provide a benchmark for oncologic service providers and health plan designers.
• To identify key areas for improvement in cancer care delivery.

Main Methods:

• A 31-member Task Force used a modified Delphi technique to generate recommendations.
• Preference-weighted majority voting identified the top three recommendations.
• Managed care organization (MCO) leaders were surveyed to assess practicality and compare results.

Main Results:

• Top recommendations: comprehensive cancer care, preventive/screening services, and evidence-based second opinions.
• Managed care organizations prioritized evidence-based decision-making.
• MCOs' subsequent rankings aligned with the Task Force's top three priorities.

Conclusions:

• Recommendations offer a framework for purchasers and providers to enhance oncology service delivery.
• Implementation can influence the structure and content of cancer care.
• Value realized through adoption by both healthcare purchasers and suppliers.