Resource and reimbursement barriers to comprehensive cancer care (CCC) delivery: An Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) survey research analysis.

Authors

null

Al Bowen Benson III

Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL

Al Bowen Benson III, Leigh Boehmer , Latha Shivakumar , Julia Rachel Trosman , Christine B. Weldon , Elizabeth A. Hahn , Sheetal Mehta Kircher

Organizations

Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Rockville, MD, Center for Business Models in Healthcare, Chicago, IL, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

Research Funding

Other
Association of Community Cancer Centers

Background: CCC delivery is recommended in guidelines, required by accreditation bodies, and essential for high-quality cancer management. Barriers, such as insufficient reimbursement and lack of specialist staff, prevent consistent access to and delivery of CCC, particularly supportive oncology services. Challenges especially persist in community programs, where access to philanthropy and similar funding is limited. ACCC conducted a representative survey of its member programs to elucidate capacity and barriers to CCC delivery in the community/academic setting in order to inform policy and value-based payment reform. Methods: Survey development methodology included item generation with expert review, iterative piloting and cognitive interviews to achieve content and internal validity. An online survey was piloted at the ACCC 2018 Annual Meeting and sent to member programs via email link. The final survey included 22 questions on availability and funding for supportive services. Twenty-seven supportive oncology services were assessed for availability, reasons not offered, reimbursement/funding and patient payment. Analyses were conducted with SAS. Results: 172 of 704 ACCC member programs responded and completed the majority of survey as of 10/7/19. Despite a high proportion of programs offering supportive oncology services, gaps between cost and reimbursement were present for all (Table). Deficits in reimbursement are compensated by patient out-of-pocket payments, grants and donations. Most centers report needing more staffing in psychology (61%), social work (60%), navigation (59%), nutrition (57%), palliative care (56%), genetic counseling (52%), and financial counseling (53%). Gaps were observed regardless of region or practice type. Conclusions: There is a lack of sufficient reimbursement, staffing, and budget to provide CCC across the U.S., regardless of region or practice type. Oncology care models and reimbursement policies must include CCC services to optimize delivery of care.

Reimbursement for selected supportive services.

n variable, max n = 172Service offered within cancer program (%)≤50% cost covered by reimbursement (%)≤74% cost covered by reimbursement (%)Reimbursed, but not sufficiently (%)Rarely/never get paid for service (%)
Distress management9233444322
Fertility preservation424747430
Genetic counseling7729446611
Patient navigation923351973
Palliative care793354522
Survivorship care planning8634494622
Nutrition consults9037553535

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Care Delivery and Regulatory Policy

Track

Care Delivery and Quality Care

Sub Track

Health and Regulatory Policy

Citation

J Clin Oncol 38: 2020 (suppl; abstr 2075)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.2075

Abstract #

2075

Poster Bd #

67

Abstract Disclosures

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