Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, Health Alliance Plan Work With Michigan Oncologists To Improve Quality, Curb Costs Of Cancer Care

DETROIT and DUBLIN, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, Health Alliance Plan (HAP) and Physician Resource Management today announced the launch of an evidence-based clinical pathways  program to improve the quality and curb the costs of cancer care for patients in Michigan.

"As the number of U.S. patients who are diagnosed with cancer is projected to increase by approximately 45 percent between 2010 and 2030[1], we're committed to partnering with community oncologists and innovative insurance companies like HAP to develop new models for delivering highly effective, well coordinated cancer care," said Dr. Bruce Feinberg, vice president and chief medical officer, Oncology, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions. "Physician-driven clinical pathways programs like this one can play an integral role in defining a more sustainable model for caring for patients with cancer, by increasing the quality, consistency and predictability of the care they receive." 

As part of this clinical pathways program, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions will work in partnership with a steering committee of local oncologists who contract with HAP to identify evidence-based treatment regimens (also referred to as clinical pathways) for breast, lung and colon cancers. Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions will then help more than 200 medical oncologists in the HAP provider network to continually update and consistently use these clinical pathways.

"I believe it's critical for oncologists, patients and payers to work together to develop a balanced set of quality and financial outcome goals that improve cancer care," said Dr. Phillip Stella, president of Physician Resource Management, which represents more than 70 Michigan oncology practices. Dr. Stella, who also serves on the physician steering committee for this pathways initiative, continued, "We're looking forward to participating in this new program because we believe it will enable us to effectively advance an innovative, new care delivery model into new markets and provide quality care to a broader group of patients."

Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions will provide proprietary technology, tools, educational programs and training to help doctors within the HAP provider network implement and monitor use of the treatment pathways. These tools also capture clinical results and track cost savings of the program – without additional administrative work.

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