By; Jeff Patton, MD, CEO
Tennessee Oncology is one of only 100 practices across the country chosen to participate in the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Centers Oncology Care Model. The Oncology Care Model (OCM) is an innovative new payment and delivery model designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of specialty care.
The goal of the OCM will utilize appropriately aligned financial incentives such as performance based payments to improve care coordination and appropriateness of care. The ultimate goal is to improve health outcomes, produce higher quality care, and lower total costs.
The model applies to episodes of treatment for patients undergoing chemotherapy. It provides incentives to providers to address the complex needs of this patient population, specifically by providing services that improve the patient experience and health outcomes.
For participation in the OCM, practices must provide all of the following services:
Provide the core functions of patient navigation
Document a care plan that contains the 13 components of the Institute of Medicine Care Management Plan outlined in the Institute of Medicine report, “Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care: Charting a New Course for a System in Crisis”
Provide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week patient access to an appropriate clinician who has real-time access to practice’s medical records
Treat patients with therapies consistent with nationally recognized clinical guidelines
Use data to drive continuous quality improvement
Use an ONC-certified electronic health record and attest to Stage 2 of meaningful use by the end of the third model performance year
Tennessee Oncology is very excited to have been selected for participation in this innovative model, and looks forward to identifying new ways to improve both health outcomes and treatment experience for our patients.
