Therapeutic interchange: The cornerstone of cost effectiveness in the Oncology Care Model performance for the U.S. Oncology Network.

Authors

null

Hope Ives

McKesson, Denver, CO

Hope Ives, Erica Feinberg, Puneeth Indurlal, Lalan S. Wilfong, Kaci Dominguez, Jody S. Garey

Organizations

McKesson, Denver, CO, US Oncology Network, Dallas, TX, The U.S. Oncology Network, McKesson, The Woodlands, TX, Texas Oncology, The US Oncology Network, Dallas, TX, Mckesson, The Woodlands, TX

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: The Oncology Care Model (OCM) is a Medicare value-based care program, that rewards practices for decreasing the total cost of care (TCOC) compared to a benchmark price. Enrolled patients are evaluated in 6-month episodes within a 1-year time window called Performance Periods (PP). The use of lower cost medication alternatives (LCA) is a critical strategy to bend the cost curve. Therapeutic interchange (TIC) with lower-cost generic/biosimilar/therapeutic alternative medications offer significant cost savings to payers and patients while maintaining equivalent quality of care. LCA for eight high-cost oncology therapeutic or supportive care medications became available during or just prior to OCM. The results of a clinically appropriate, physician-supported, pharmacist-led interchange of high-cost medications to LCA in The US Oncology Network (The Network) during OCM PP 7 (PP7), 8 (PP8), and 9 (PP9) is described here. Methods: Medicare Part B & D claims for 14 OCM practices in The Network were used to evaluate the impact of eight TIC opportunities during PP 7-9. TIC opportunities included changing therapy from reference products to biosimilars (bevacizumab, trastuzumab, rituximab, pegfilgrastim and filgrastim), from brand to generics (abiraterone, imatinib, fosaprepitant) and from high cost to LCA (aprepitant to fosaprepitant, denosumab to zoledronic acid). TCOC impact was measured by comparing the cost of each dose of the LCA vs the estimated cost if the more expensive alternative had been used instead. Results: The shift from high cost to LCAs in PP7, PP8 and PP9 is shown in Table as percentage of total doses dispensed or administered. Transitions from aprepitant to fosaprepitant, and from denosumab to zoledronic acid was done when clinically appropriate (as determined by the treating physician). The cumulative savings from TIC was $26.0M in PP7, $32.3M in PP8 and $32.9M in PP9. TIC to biosimilars contributed $6.6M in PP8 and $12.2M in PP9 of the cumulative savings. TIC reduced TCOC by 2.78% in PP7, 4.13% in PP8, 5.25% in PP9 within the OCM. Conclusions: TIC to biosimilars, generics and clinically appropriate LCA is an effective way to reduce TCOC while maintaining quality care in the OCM. Even small shifts in utilization towards LCA can generate a significant reduction in TCOC. Physician-supported, pharmacist-led TIC initiatives are critical to bending the cost curve within Oncology.

Drug Name
Drug Type
PP7 % of Total
PP8 % of Total
PP9 % of Total
Fosaprepitant
Generic and therapeutic alternative
27%
78%
86%
Abiraterone
Generic
67%
80%
87%
Imatinib
Generic
82%
84%
85%
Filgrastim
Biosimilar
91%
92%
92%
Pegfilgrastim
Biosimilar
1%
3%
12%
Bevacizumab
Biosimilar
5%
43%
73%
Trastuzumab
Biosimilar
4%
33%
67%
Rituximab
Biosimilar
2%
41%
73%
Zoledronic Acid
Therapeutic alternative
55%
57%
56%

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2022 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Rapid Oral Abstract Session

Session Title

Rapid Abstract Session B

Track

Cost, Value, and Policy,Health Care Access, Equity, and Disparities

Sub Track

Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of Care

Citation

J Clin Oncol 40, 2022 (suppl 28; abstr 5)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2022.40.28_suppl.005

Abstract #

5

Abstract Disclosures

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