Oncology Advocacy Guidelines: Enhancing Patient Access to Quality Cancer Care
Oncology Advocacy and Guideline Adherence
The oncology field is making notable advancements in advocacy and guidelines aimed at enhancing patient care equity and addressing prior authorization challenges. Alyssa Schatz, MSW, VP of Policy and Advocacy at the NCCN, discussed these developments at the Patient-Centered Oncology Care meeting.
The Importance of Guidelines
Guideline adherence significantly impacts overall patient outcomes. Schatz highlighted findings showing that adherence leads to improved survival rates and enhanced quality of life. Furthermore, adhering to these guidelines is also deemed economically beneficial, reducing healthcare costs.
- 85% of U.S. patients are covered by plans utilizing NCCN guidelines.
- Policy changes demand timely responses from insurers for prior authorization, enhancing patient access.
Efforts Towards Health Equity
NCCN actively promotes health equity in cancer care, recognizing the ongoing disparities. Recent initiatives include changes to guidelines which use inclusive language and foster collaboration with community organizations.
- Health Equity Report Card to measure equitable care.
- New patient navigation codes from CMS for high-risk patients.
Significant strides are underway, but challenges such as chemotherapy drug shortages still loom over patient access. Ongoing advocacy and collaboration within the oncology community are essential to maintain momentum toward improving cancer care.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.