National practice benchmark: 2010 report on 2009 data

Oncology practices continue to experience economic pressures as costs rise, numbers of patients increase, and reimbursements from payers remain flat or decrease. Many practices have responded to these challenges by examining business processes and making changes to improve efficiency and decrease costs. The National Practice Benchmark is a national survey of community oncology practices that provides data for practices to use in managing today's challenging practice environment.

Oncology practices were invited to participate in an online benchmarking survey. One hundred eighty-nine practices from 44 states responded to the survey, and demographic, operational, and financial data were collected for calendar year 2009 or the most recently completed fiscal year.

Data from 2009 were compiled and compared with previously collected 2007 and 2008 data. The data reveal that total revenue has increased by approximately 6% per year over this 3-year period. During the same period, however, cost of drugs increased dramatically: 13.5% increase from 2007 to 2008 and 16% from 2008 to 2009. Total practice expense increased at virtually the same level as drug costs in 2008 and was flat for 2009.

Survey results indicate an overall lowering of practice expenses even as cost of drugs continues to rise, and are consistent with the slight increase in the number of new patients per full-time equivalent hematology/oncology physician. These measures indicate an overall increase in service delivery efficiency and adaptation by many practices to the changing practice environment.