Therapeutic pathways embedded in EHR to improve cancer care

A new oncology alternative payment model (APM) uses treatment and diagnostic pathways embedded in a practice’s electronic heath record (EHR) to manage a “tsunami of data.” It also seeks to go further than providing effective treatment supported by a sustainable payment system. 

Its developer aims to “provide a toolkit for transformation to a value-based system” that other specialties could follow. 

“I just want to change health care—that’s all,” said Barbara L. McAneny, MD, whose company’s proposed APM, Making Accountable Sustainable Oncology Networks (MASON), was recently endorsed by a Health and Human Services (HHS) advisory panel. The Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) determined that MASON met all 10 of the HHS criteria for APMs and recommended that it be further developed and implemented as a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) payment model.  

MASON builds off the Community Oncology Medical Home model—called Come Home—developed by Dr. McAneny that was supported by a $19.77 million CMMI innovation award. Used by seven community oncology practices across the U.S., Come Home was found to cut emergency department visits and lower oncology care costs by $2,500 per patient.